Predators’ Slow Start Sinks Them in 5-3 Loss to Sabres
The Nashville Predators found themselves chasing the game from the opening puck drop Tuesday night, and despite a late push, they couldn’t climb out of the early hole. A 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Bridgestone Arena leaves Nashville three points back of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference - a tough pill to swallow for a team trying to build consistency down the stretch.
Let’s be clear: this one got away early. Buffalo opened the scoring midway through the first on a slick setup from Konsta Helenius, who found Noah Ostlund in front of Juuse Saros for the finish.
That was just the beginning of a breakout night for Helenius, who notched his first three NHL points in this one. The Predators, meanwhile, looked flat-footed, and the Sabres took full advantage.
By the time the first period ended, Nashville was staring at a 3-0 deficit. Ostlund struck again off another Helenius assist, and then Helenius got in on the scoring himself at 2:36, capitalizing on a turnover. The Sabres’ third line brought the energy and execution, and the Preds didn’t have an answer.
“They were faster, stronger. They won puck battles,” Filip Forsberg said postgame. “We had a choice going into the second - either quit or actually start trying.”
The Predators did respond with more urgency in the second, but Buffalo didn’t let up. Tage Thompson made it 4-0 with his 26th of the season, prompting Head Coach Andrew Brunette to make a change in net. Saros, who allowed four goals on 18 shots, was pulled in favor of Justus Annunen, who stopped all 13 shots he faced in relief.
From there, Nashville started to show some life. Ryan O’Reilly got the Preds on the board at 9:51, taking advantage of a delayed penalty and snapping one past Sabres goalie Alex Lyon. Forsberg followed with a sharp-angle goal off a turnover, cutting the deficit to 4-2 before the second intermission.
The third period was all Nashville in terms of pressure. The Predators fired 14 shots in the final frame, and O’Reilly added his second of the night - and third point overall - at 10:30 to make it a one-goal game. Momentum had shifted, the crowd was back in it, and the comeback felt within reach.
But with Annunen pulled for the extra attacker in the final minutes, Buffalo’s Peyton Krebs sealed it with an empty-netter to make it 5-3.
“We dug ourselves in a hole that we couldn't get back out of,” O’Reilly said. “We’re a very good team and we had the momentum, but the hole we dug was too deep.”
Coach Brunette echoed the frustration, pointing to the team’s lack of readiness at the start. “They outworked us, they outcompeted us, they wanted it more than we did in the first period,” he said. “We were lucky it was only 3-0.”
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots. O’Reilly and Forsberg both finished with three-point nights, showing veteran leadership and offensive punch when the team needed it most. Cole Smith brought physicality with five hits, and Annunen looked sharp in relief, giving the Preds a chance to stay in it.
Still, moral victories don’t count in the standings. With the playoff race tightening, Nashville can’t afford to come out flat - not against any opponent, and certainly not at home.
The Predators will look to bounce back Thursday night when they stay in the Atlantic Division to face the Ottawa Senators. Puck drops at 7 p.m. local time.