Predators strike for three in first, hold off Flames’ rally
Michael Bunting scored once in a three-point outing and the host Nashville Predators rode a three-goal first period to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Rookie Matthew Wood collected one goal and one assist while Jonathan Marchessault and Filip Forsberg scored once for the Predators (5-6-2).
Goaltender Juuse Saros made 33 saves to help his team hang on for the much-needed win.
Jonathan Huberdeau and Joel Farabee replied for the Flames, who sit at the bottom of the league standings with only two victories in their first 13 games (2-9-2).
Starting goalie Dustin Wolf surrendered three goals on 11 shots and was pulled after the first period. Devin Cooley stopped all 12 shots he faced in relief.
Bunting provided a much-needed positive start to snap his team's three-game losing skid when he opened the scoring at 10:29 by deflecting Spencer Stastney's point shot for his third goal of the season.
Wood doubled the lead 49 seconds later with his second goal of the season and second in as many outings. A loose puck came to Wood at the top of the right circle and he immediately fired a top-shelf offering.
Marchessault's power-play goal made it a 3-0 affair at 14:17 of the opening frame. He finished a 3-on-2 rush with a quick shot from the low slot for his fourth goal of the campaign.
The Predators scored more than two goals for only the fourth time this season.
To their credit, the floundering Flames mounted a comeback attempt, although it fell just short. Huberdeau cracked the goose egg at 4:39 of the third period when he pounced on a rebound for his second goal of the season.
Farabee made it a one-goal game with his second goal of the season at 11:57. Off a rush, he snapped a one-timer from the top of the right circle to run his point-scoring streak to four games, in which he has scored twice and added two assists.
But Calgary's comeback hopes were dashed by Forsberg's empty-net goal with 24 seconds remaining to round out the scoring.