Saros makes 23 saves, Predators beat Kraken 3-0 for Brunette’s first coaching victory with team

Juuse Saros recorded his 21st NHL shutout, making 23 saves, as the Nashville Predators defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-0 on Thursday night. The victory marked Andrew Brunette’s first coaching win with the Predators.

Barry Trotz, the team’s general manager, also celebrated his first win in that role with Nashville. Trotz previously served as the team’s coach from 1998-2014 before moving on to coach the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders. Brunette, on the other hand, was an original member of the Predators and scored the franchise’s first goal in October 1998.

Colton Sissons, Gustav Nyquist, and Juuso Parssinen were the goal scorers for the Predators. Both teams had suffered road losses in their season openers, with the Predators falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Kraken losing to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights.

Sissons broke the deadlock just past the halfway mark of the second period. Taking advantage of a power play, Sissons outpaced the Kraken players to a backhand pass by Cole Smith from inside the Nashville blue line. He executed a forehand to backhand move to beat goaltender Philipp Grubauer and find the back of the net.

Nyquist scored his first goal as a Predator at 10:03 of the third period, deflecting a shot in front of Grubauer during a delayed penalty against Seattle. Parssinen sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

Parssinen had also scored in the Predators’ season opener. Grubauer was solid in net for the Kraken, making 32 saves throughout the game.

SOLO SKATE

Following NHL tradition for players making their debut, rookie Tye Kartye took a solo lap during the pregame warmup. Kartye had previously appeared in 10 playoff games for the Kraken last season, tallying three goals and two assists.

SCHENN OUT

Defenseman Luke Schenn sat out the game for the Predators due to a lower-body injury. Dante Fabbro filled in for him, having been a healthy scratch in the previous game.

This article was originally published on the Associated Press website.