Jonathan Marchessault scored his first two goals of the season and the Nashville Predators beat the host Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Monday afternoon.
Ryan O’Reilly and Cole Smith also scored for the Predators. Juusi Saros made 31 saves. It was Smith’s first goal in 26 games.
Ridly Greig got the Senators’ lone goal and Linus Ullmark stopped 22 shots.
Greig’s power-play goal foiled Saros’ shutout bid and made it 2-1 with 2:03 left. Dylan Cozens’ shot/pass deflected in off Greig’s skate for his first goal.
Marchessault and Smith added empty-net goals in the final minute.
Marchessault gave Nashville a 1-0 lead 7:49 into the second period. After taking a pass from Michael Bunting, Marchessault skated along the goal line, made a backhand to forehand move and put the puck between Ullmark’s pads for his first goal.
O’Reilly scored with 5:22 left in regulation when he put in a shot from the slot off the rush. It was his second goal.
The Senators had a goal called back 6:03 into the second period. Jake Sanderson’s apparent tally was wiped out by goaltender interference on Tim Stutzle after a challenge from Predators coach Andrew Brunette.
Ottawa had a 12-6 shots advantage in the middle period.
The Predators had two breakaway opportunities in a scoreless first period.
Ullmark stopped Filip Forsberg 1-on-1 and denied Forsberg on the rebound about three minutes into the game with Nashville on a power play.
There were seven penalties in the opening period and Nashville had four power plays.
Ottawa’s third defense pairing, Jordan Spence and Tyler Kleven, both made their season debuts after being healthy scratches in the first two games. It was Spence’s first game with his new team after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Kings.
Brady Martin, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 draft, was a healthy scratch for Nashville.
–Field Level Media
