Sabres Stun Predators Early, Nashville’s Late Push Falls Short in Costly Loss
The Nashville Predators were chasing the game before most fans had settled into their seats Tuesday night. A first-period blitz from the Buffalo Sabres left the Preds in a 3-0 hole that quickly became 4-0, and despite a spirited push in the second half, the damage was already done. Nashville’s comeback bid came up short in a 5-3 loss at Bridgestone Arena - their second straight defeat and a missed opportunity in the tightening Western Conference playoff race.
Let’s break down what went wrong, what showed promise, and why this one stings a little more than most.
First-Period Collapse Sets the Tone
For three straight games leading into Tuesday, the Predators had struck first. Even in Saturday’s loss to Vegas, Nashville opened the scoring. But that trend reversed in a hurry against Buffalo.
The Sabres wasted no time asserting themselves, with Noah Ostlund finding the net twice in the opening frame and rookie Konsta Helenius notching his first NHL goal - plus two assists - in a breakout performance. By the time the first horn sounded, Nashville was staring at a 3-0 deficit and struggling to match Buffalo’s pace or execution.
“We just didn’t want to work. It’s pretty simple,” said Filip Forsberg postgame.
“They’re a skilled team, they’re a fast team. We gave them exactly what they wanted, and they hurt us.”
Head coach Andrew Brunette didn’t sugarcoat it either.
“They out-worked us and out-competed us,” he said. “They wanted it more than we did in the first period, and it was pretty evident for everybody watching. We were lucky it was only 3-0.”
That lack of urgency - especially in a game with playoff implications - was the kind of lapse that can’t happen this time of year. And Brunette made it clear: no moral victories for playing better in the second half. The game was lost in the first 20 minutes.
Saros Pulled Again, and the Message Was Clear
Juuse Saros, the backbone of this team for so many nights, was pulled early in the second after surrendering four goals on 18 shots. Justus Annunen came in and stopped all 13 shots he faced, but by then, the Predators were in scramble mode.
Brunette said the decision to pull Saros wasn’t about blaming the goalie - it was about lighting a fire under the team.
“It’s not fair for Little Juice,” Brunette said. “I hope they get mad.
They should be upset that they’ve let their goalies get barraged two games in a row. These guys have hung in there for us all season.”
Forsberg echoed that sentiment, noting Saros probably should’ve been pulled even earlier, not because of his performance, but because the team in front of him wasn’t giving him a chance.
“It’s certainly not Juice’s fault,” Forsberg said. “We’ve definitely got to be better.”
A Glimmer of Fight - But Not Enough
To their credit, Nashville didn’t fold. Ryan O’Reilly and Forsberg each found the back of the net in the second period, cutting the deficit to 4-2 and injecting some life into the building. Then, in the third, O’Reilly struck again - his second of the night and ninth point in five games - to pull the Preds within one.
That goal shifted the momentum squarely in Nashville’s favor. For a few minutes, it felt like they might pull off the kind of comeback that had become their calling card during a stretch from late November into early January.
But this time, the hole was just too deep. Peyton Krebs sealed the deal for Buffalo with an empty-netter, and the comeback fizzled out.
“We had the momentum and control of the game,” O’Reilly said. “But the hole we dug was too deep.
We’re gonna have times where we lose momentum, but to do it for a full period - that’s not us. You can’t be doing that.
It’s too tough.”
The Bigger Picture: Playoff Race Tightens
This wasn’t just a frustrating loss - it was a costly one. The Predators now sit three points outside the final Wild Card spot in the West, and with the standings as tight as they are, every missed point looms large.
This is a team that has shown it can respond - that much was clear in the second and third periods. But the margin for error is shrinking, and slow starts like Tuesday’s aren’t going to cut it down the stretch.
“You learn from it, move on,” Brunette said. “Obviously, we’re disappointed. There’s no consolation, but you saw the team we can be when we get going.”
The Predators will look to get back on track Thursday night when they host the Ottawa Senators. With the playoff picture getting murkier by the game, Nashville needs more than just a bounce-back - they need a full 60-minute effort.