The Rangers lost their first seven home games (0-6-1), scoring six goals and getting shut out five times. They scored five goals before the second intermission Monday, with three coming on four shots in the second period.
Juuse Saros allowed five goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Justus Annunen (five saves) for the third period by the Predators, who have lost five games in a row, the past three in regulation, and eight of nine (1-6-2).
“It’s gone a little too long here,” Nashville defenseman Brady Skjei said. “We need to get back in the win column very soon. That’s the No. 1 thing.”
The Predators will try to do that next in Stockholm, where they play two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal.
They departed after the game and will play the Penguins at Avicii Arena on Friday (2 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, SN-PIT, NHLN, SN) and Sunday (9 a.m. ET; FDSNSO, SN-PIT, NHLN, SN).
“It’ll be a great time for our group right now to be together,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “This is a great opportunity to help define the rest of the season.”
Mika Zibanejad’s breakaway goal, set up by a pass from Adam Fox (two assists), gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 10:39 of the first period and ended a home shutout streak of 140:27 dating to a 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23.
Wood tied it 1-1 at 16:16 with a double rebound power-play goal from the slot, but Gavrikov scored at 18:07 to give New York a 2-1 lead.
“I know how I felt on the bench when we scored that goal,” Sullivan said. “I said, ‘OK, we’re going to be OK.’ I just felt like from a mindset standpoint the group was in the right place, in the right headspace and that’s such an important part of winning.”
