The Nashville Predators second and final home preseason game showcased a few changes to the defense corps and one forward making his debut in a gold sweater. Nashville came out on top 5-1 over the Hurricanes before they finish the preseason in Raleigh on Friday.
Forward Samuel Fagemo — claimed on waivers earlier in the week from Los Angeles — was paired with rookie Luke Evangelista and centerman Tommy Novak taking on the Hurricanes. He scored in the second period making a good impression in his unofficial debut.
“I think we kept on doing the right thing,” Fagemo said about his new linemates. “I was shooting some pucks and getting to the net as soon as possible. Then I got some good passes as well. I think the teammates talked a lot too and helped me out a lot out there and I’m really grateful for that.”
Head coach Andrew Brunette’s powerplay and offensive scheme was in full effect as the Predators forwards rolled out all four lines and took advantage of the Hurricane’s young guns.
“Well, I think we started off a little sleepy and I really liked our second and third periods,” Brunette said. “They’re a [Rod] Brind’Amour coached team they’re going to work as hard as anybody in the league regardless of who’s in the lineup and we weren’t ready for it. It’s been too many games in a row we’ve become a little flat and it’s kind of unacceptable but I thought as the game went on we had a little bit more relentless mindset.”
Nashville was relentless on their offensive chances while taking it one step at a time to showcase their new system.
However, Ryan Suzuki got Carolina on the board first on a tic-tac-toe play after forward Ryan O’Reilly turned the puck over the top of his own blue line. Lauzon answered back with a shot from the point and O’Reilly tipped it past Antti Raanta knotting it up.
Brunette’s powerplay saw a quick strike as Filip Forsberg snapped one glove side giving Nashville a 2-1 lead 10 minutes in. The pace of play kept flowing as all four lines were moving the puck and driving to the net.
“Sometimes it takes a night like this, the other team is going to make you work hard, and it’s going to be the same tomorrow night. At times it’s been a hard lesson to learn that we really have to work a lot harder away from the puck if we want this to work and it’s demanding and it’s uncomfortable at different times.”
Even shorthanded late in the opening frame the Predators drove up the ice as Gustav Nyquist darted on the attack with defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to his left.
Kiefer Sherwood got on the board too after he jumped up on the rush with Josi. The captain found Sherwood in a last-second look to take a 3-1 lead.
“Quite a special feed,” Sherwood said. “We were trying to stay connected on the breakout and I chipped it to him and tried to use my speed and he drew two guys with him because that’s the respect he gets here. You get a crazy pass and I just finished it.”
Nashville’s penalty kill was busy in the second period with Sissons playing alongside Sherwood while Schenn & McDonagh were a pair. Forsberg and Glass were the second forwards out on the unit.
Nashville put their stamp on the game with a goal on the doorstep by Nyquist to make it 4-1. Josi broke up the slot on yet another rush by the Predators and capitalized.
Then the late addition to training camp got on the scoresheet as Forsberg found Fagemo in the slot for a backhand tap-in. O’Reilly capped off his night with a secondary assist here
“It’s been a busy week but a fun one,” Fagemo said. “It’s a great experience that’s happening in my life so I’m super happy and pumped up to be here.”
Brunette got to see the Swedish forward for the first time and he has another chance tomorrow when Nashville wraps up the preseason in PNC Arena.
“I thought as the game went on he got more comfortable,” Brunette said. “I thought he did a really good first showing, I think he’s getting it, he’s a smart player, and looking forward to seeing him again.”
Going into the final game of the preseason the Predators look like a team that’s gelled well over the last few weeks, something Brunette said he wanted and has slowly seen come to fruition.
Lauzon exited the game late and did not return. Brunette stated he hopes that he isn’t out too long after seeing him jump up on plays against the Hurricanes.
“Hopefully, we don’t lose him for a very long time because he’s a real competitive big part of this team,” Brunette said. “He has the tools to get up and the skating skills to get back too so It’s a good compliment.”
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
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