Nashville began the 2024-25 season with five straight losses en route to a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Central Division. The Predators, who didn’t pick up their second win until Game 7, will try to open the season with back-to-back victories when they host the Utah Mammoth on Saturday.
Nashville opened the season with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Ryan O’Reilly scored a go-ahead power-play goal early in the third period and Juuse Saros made 38 saves to lead the Predators.
“(Saros) was outstanding and gave us a chance to win the game,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “But I’m really proud of the group. It wasn’t the smoothest water all the time, but we hung in there and it’s something to build on.”
The Predators missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three years after finishing with a 30-44-8 record for just 68 points. Getting off to a quick start this season has been a priority to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
“It’s a good feeling,” O’Reilly said. “It wasn’t pretty at times out there. They had some momentum, and we got caught on our heels, but still, to find a way to win, to kind of stay with it … it’s so important to establish that right away and get that first win.”
Nashville won two of three against Utah last season. The Predators depart on a challenging four-game Canadian road trip after Saturday’s contest.
“It’s definitely a great game to build on,” O’Reilly said. “A lot of things to clean up and be a lot better in areas. But still, a win is a win, and it’s something to feel good about.”
So was the play of Saros, who is trying to move on from a disappointing 20-31-6 season during which he had only a .896 save percentage and 2.98 goals-against average.
“It’s huge,” forward Filip Forsberg said. “Obviously, he’s the backbone of our team. … He’s one of the best, if not the best (goaltenders in the NHL).”
Utah opened with a 2-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Thursday. Forward Dylan Guenther scored a power-play goal in the second period to tie it before Nathan MacKinnon scored what proved to be the game-winner on the power play early in the third.
“I think we played a good game,” Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny said. “We didn’t like our first period very much, but I think we got our legs under ourselves and played really good in the second and third. Their goalie (Scott Wedgewood, who made 32 saves) came up big. We had some good chances.”
Utah played without center Barrett Hayton, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and could return Saturday. Hayton’s loss was especially felt in the faceoff circle, where Colorado won 50 of 72 draws (69.4 percent).
“It hurt. No doubt about it,” Tourigny admitted. “It’s tough when you always start without the puck. That’s an area of the game that we need to get better. … We expect to get better every game. So, looking forward to Saturday for the next one.”
–Field Level Media
