Predators Point Streak Snapped in 8-4 Loss to Coyotes

All good things must come to an end.

Jason Zucker scored twice in the first six minutes of the game and Roman Josi iced another three-point effort, but the Nashville Predators ultimately fell to the Arizona Coyotes by a 8-4 decision at Mullett Arena on Thursday.

The result saw Nashville’s franchise-record point streak snapped at 18 games (16-0-2) and handed the Predators their first regulation loss since Feb. 15.

“I thought we played well in the beginning, but we kind of got away from that a little bit in the first and then just gave them too much,” Josi said. “They’re a really skilled team and they made us pay on a couple of mistakes… I think there were times tonight when maybe we didn't play that well through the neutral zone notice and didn't manage to puck well enough. They make you pay and they definitely made us pay tonight.”

“There's going to be nights like this,” Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. “Every team in the NHL is a good team, every night is hard, and I thought we did enough good things to win the game. We just made some mistakes that really cost us and we couldn’t overcome them tonight. We've been able to overcome them a few different times, but tonight, we tried and we were right there. We made it 4-3 and the next shift it was 5-3, and that's kind of the way the night went.”

QUICK HITS

500 in 900

Despite the result, Nashville’s captain reached two major milestones on Thursday, recording three assists to reach 500 career helpers in his 900th career game.

The effort stretched Josi’s point streak to eight games (4g-10a) and earned him the fourth three-point performance of his last 14 outings.

A New Franchise Record

Scoring in the third period, Filip Forsberg (41) established a franchise-record seven-game goal streak (8, March 13-29) and inched closer to breaking the franchise’s single-season goals record (43).

Forsberg additionally established a season-high eight-game point streak (8g-8a) recording the primary assist on Nyquist’s goal. The effort was the forward’s seventh multi-point performance in his last 11 outings.

Sissons’ 200th

With a secondary assist on Zucker’s first goal, Colton Sissons recorded the 200th point (88g-112a) of his NHL career.

Sissons’ 20th helper of the season additionally earned the forward his second career 20-assist campaign and his first since 2021-22 (21).

UP NEXT

The Predators conclude their two-game road trip with a Central Division clash against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. 

Puck drop at Ball Arena is at 5 p.m. CT, with the game set to broadcast on Bally Sports South, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio. 

NOTES

• Kevin Lankinen replaced Juuse Saros (21/27, L) to start the third period and made 11 saves on as many shots in the relief effort.
• Jeremy Lauzon recorded a game-high 11 hits on Thursday, one shy of a season-high established on Jan. 15 vs. Vegas. 
• Cody Glass rejoined Nashville’s lineup for his first game since March 7 vs. Buffalo and recorded two assists and three shots over 11:51 of ice time.
• Spencer Stastney returned from injury for his first game since March 13 vs. Winnipeg and recorded one block and one shot over 19:45 of ice time.
• Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Anthony Beauvillier, Alexandre Carrier (upper body) and Dante Fabbro (upper body, week-to-week) were scratched and did not skate in Thursday’s game.