Gagner’s hat trick leads Detroit to win as Predators’ streak ends
DETROIT — Sam Gagner scored three goals, ending a 17-game drought that lasted nearly a year, as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Thursday night.
Adam Erne and Luke Glendening also scored for Detroit, which set a season high for goals. Jonathan Bernier made 37 saves, improving to 11-5-0 in 18 career games against Nashville.
Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula scored for the Predators.
Gagner snapped a 2-all tie at 9:58 of the third period. He spun into the right circle and fired the puck, which banked off goaltender Pekka Rinne’s right skate and into the net.
Gagner’s first goal, a bad-angle shot from the right corner, came at 8:38 of the second. His third was an empty-net tally at 16:56 of the third. Bobby Ryan assisted on the first two goals by Gagner.
Rinne, who shut out the Red Wings on Tuesday night, had 28 saves.
Detroit has won two of its past three games, and the Red Wings prevented Nashville from posting its first threegame winning streak of the season.
Glendening gave Detroit a 1-0 lead at 4:55 of the first when he backhanded a rebound past Rinne. Both of Glendening’s goals this season have come against Nashville.
The Predators tied it at 14:15 when Granlund went to the net and backhanded the rebound of Roman Josi’s shot past Bernier.
Haula tied it again when he backhanded a rebound past Bernier at 2:55 of the third.
Gagner hadn’t scored since Feb. 29, 2020, at Ottawa.
Haula’s goal was his first since Feb. 8, 2020, at Vegas, snapping a 30-game drought.
Josi has 12 assists in his past 12 games against Detroit.
Before the game, the Red Wings recalled forward Mathias Bromé and defenseman Danny DeKeyser from the taxi squad and assigned forward Frans Nielsen to the taxi squad. The Predators recalled forward Eeli Tolvanen and defenseman Ben Harpur from the taxi squad.
The Predators return home to host the Columbus Blue Jackets in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday.
The Red Wings travel to Chicago for back-to-back games this weekend.