Saros makes 23 saves, Predators beat Kraken 3-0 for Brunette's first coaching victory with team
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Juuse Saros made 23 saves for his 21st NHL shutout and Nashville beat the Seattle Kraken 3-0 on Thursday night to give Andrew Brunette his first coaching victory with the Predators.
General manager Barry Trotz also got his first win in that position with Nashville. Trotz was the team’s first coach from 1998-2014 before stints with Washington and the New York Islanders. Brunette was an original Predator, scoring the franchise’s first goal in October 1998.
“Once you’re a player and having the Predator uniform, even though you’re not a player (anymore), you feel like you’re still a player and you still get the jitters and the excitement,” Brunette said. “To get a win, it makes it extra special.”
Colton Sissons, Gustav Nyquist and Juuso Parssinen scored.
Both teams opened the seasons Tuesday night with road losses, the Predators at Tampa Bay and the Kraken at defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas.
“The puck isn’t going our way right now,” Kraken forward Yanni Gourde said.
Sissons opened the scoring just past the midway point of the second period.
With the Kraken on a power play, Cole Smith sent a backhand saucer pass from inside the Nashville blue line into the neutral zone, where Sissons won a race for the puck and went in on a breakaway. He went forehand to backhand to beat goaltender Philipp Grubauer.
“I just saw a pocket of ice and caught them being a little overaggressive,” Sissons said. “He put it in a great spot for me to have a chance at a breakaway and fortunately put it in.”
Nyquist scored his first goal as a Predator at 10:03 of the third off of a deflection in front of Grubauer on a delayed penalty to Seattle, and Parssinen completed the scoring with an empty-net goal.
Parssinen also scored in the opener.
Grubauer finished with 32 saves.
“(Grubauer) has been solid both nights here,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “He’s been sharp. He’s seeing the puck well.”
SOLO SKATE
When the Kraken skated out for the pregame warmup, rookie Tye Kartye took a lap on his own, as per NHL tradition for players appearing in their first game. Kartye did appear in 10 playoff games for the Kraken last season, scoring three goals and adding two assists.
SCHENN OUT
Predators defenseman Luke Schenn sat out due to a lower-body injury. He was replaced by Dante Fabbro, who was a healthy scratch Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Kraken: At St. Louis on Saturday night.
Predators: At Boston on Saturday night.
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