PRAGUE — Nino Niederreiter scored two targets, Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves, and the Nashville Predators swept the San Jose Sharks within the 2022 NHL Global Series with a 3-2 win ahead of 17,023 at O2 Arena on Saturday.
Niederreiter’s 2d objective gave Nashville a 3-2 lead at 12:13 of the second one length. After serving a penalty for boarding, he got here out of the field on a 3-on-2 rush. Eeli Tolvanen carried the puck into the left circle, outwaited a defender and despatched a go throughout. Niederreiter took the go in the fitting circle, outwaited a defender and beat Kaapo Kahkonen.
“I mean, obviously, most important thing is that we won, but it’s great being able to contribute to a team,” Niederreiter mentioned. “Definitely (a) huge goal for our team, and very happy we won the game.”
Video: NSH@SJS: Niederreiter finishes rush for 2d objective
Niederreiter additionally scored within the Predators’ 4-1 win towards the Sharks right here Friday, giving him 3 targets in two video games to open the common season. He signed with Nashville as an unrestricted unfastened agent July 21.
“Unreal,” mentioned Predators heart Ryan Johansen, who performed with Niederreiter with Portland of the Western Hockey League from 2009-11. “Super happy for him. I’ve known him for 14 years. He’s a great friend, and I’m really proud of him and happy for his start on a new team. As you can see, he’s going to be a big part of our team.”
Filip Forsberg additionally scored for the Predators (2-0-0).
Lankinen made 15 of his saves within the 3rd length and earned his first win for Nashville after signing as an unrestricted unfastened agent July 14.
“I think that showed a lot of character from the whole team,” Lankinen mentioned. “It was huge. Seeing the guys battle in front of me like that, putting everything on the line, doing whatever it takes, it gives you a boost as a goalie too. You don’t want to let them down. You want to do whatever it takes for them as well. I think this trip has been huge for us. I’m so happy we can go home with two wins from here.”
Luke Kunin and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks (0-2-0). Kahkonen made 15 saves.
Video: NSH@SJS: Forsberg buries personal rebound to knot ranking
Sharks trainer David Quinn felt his group completed more potent than it did Friday, when he mentioned it used to be demoralized after Nashville took a 3-1 lead.
“I actually thought that third period was the best period,” Quinn mentioned. “I really did. I liked our third period. Huge contrast to what we saw last night. Staying out of the box, I felt we were on top of them.”
Kunin echoed his trainer.
“I thought our third was really good,” Kunin mentioned. “They didn’t sit back, and I thought we had a lot of looks. We played hard. We were on the attack. I thought we were a lot more physical, playing more inside tonight and just couldn’t find a way to get one.”
Kunin, whom the Predators traded to the Sharks on July 8, gave San Jose a 1-0 lead at the energy play at 14:24 of the primary length. Mario Ferraro fired a shot from the left circle, Oskar Lindblom chipped the rebound in entrance, and Kunin swiped his personal rebound previous Lankinen’s left pad.
Niederreiter tied the sport 1-1 at 4:35 of the second one length. Johansen put the puck between the skates of defenseman Jaycob Megna as he reduce to the online from the fitting circle, then despatched a backhand go to the fitting. Niederreiter banged it in at the aspect of the online.
“I just did a last-minute panic-button move, and it got through, and Nino went hard to the net and put it in,” Johansen mentioned.
Couture answered for San Jose 10 seconds later to make it 2-1 at 4:45, one-timing a go from Steven Lorentz within the prime slot previous Lankinen’s glove.
Forsberg tied the sport 2-2 at 6:29, selecting up his personal rebound off the fitting publish, wrapping round and banking within the puck off Kahkonen.
Each group travels house Sunday. The Predators’ subsequent recreation is towards the Dallas Stars at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. The Sharks’ subsequent recreation is towards the Carolina Hurricanes at SAP Center on Friday.
“Obviously, there’s so much work to do,” Johansen mentioned. “We’ve got 80 games left. But we should definitely feel pretty good about ourselves and know that when we’re doing the right things on the ice we can be a successful team and create a lot of trouble for the opposition.”