Giroux helps Senators beat struggling Predators 3-1
Claude Giroux, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Nick Cousins scored and the Ottawa Senators beat the Nashville Predators 3-1
OTTAWA, ON — Claude Giroux, Jacob Bernard-Docker and Nick Cousins scored and the Ottawa Senators beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Saturday night.
Tim Stutzle had two assists for Ottawa in a second straight victory. Linus Ullmark made 37 saves.
Nashville fell to 0-4-3 during a seven-game slide.
The Senators took the lead to stay with two goals in the second.
Bernard-Docker received a pass from Stutzle and fired a shot from the faceoff circle that beat Juuse Saros for his first of the season. Giroux made it 2-0 when his shot deflected off the skate of Nashville’s Steven Stamkos at 16:52.
Saros stopped 27 shots.
The Predators pushed hard at the end of the second. Roman Josi fired a shot off the crossbar, then Ullmark made a couple of big saves.
Cousins made it 3-1 with his third of the season midway through the third.
Ullmark lost its shutout when Fedor Svechkov scored with 1:57 remaining. It was Svechkov’s second goal of the season.
Senators: The Senators pushed until the final buzzer, which was lacking earlier.
Predators: Nashville’s goal-killers continue to be a bright spot throughout this difficult stretch as they went a perfect 3-for-3 on the night.
The Senators killed a Nashville power play early in the third to maintain momentum.
Prior to the game, the Predators had scored at least three goals (including shootout winners) in 16 consecutive games against the Senators.
The Predators host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. The Senators will host the New York Islanders on Sunday night.
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