(New York) Cole Smith scored two first-period goals to help the Nashville Predators defeat the Rangers 4-1 in New York on Thursday.
Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg also scored for the visitors, while goalie Juuse Saros, making his fifth start in six games this season, stopped 23 shots.
Adam Fox sparkled the red light for Rangers. Igor Shesterkin was replaced by Jonathan Quick in the second period after allowing four goals on 18 shots. Quick blocked all nine shots aimed at him.
Vincent Trocheck thought he had cut the lead to 4-2 in the third period, but the Predators contested the goal due to an offside and won.
Forsberg made it 4-0 for the Predators on the power play with a shot from the right circle into the upper left corner with 6:09 left in the second period. Forsberg’s net ended Shesterkin’s night.
The Rangers had a five-on-three power play late in the second period. Fox took advantage, as his pass to the slot deflected off the right leg of defender Ryan McDonagh with 42 seconds left in the period, before penetrating the net.
Fox’s goal gave the Rangers a power play goal in each of their four games so far this season.
