Filip Forsberg extended his points streak to eight games, and Steven Stamkos inched closer to 600 career goals for the host Nashville Predators, who held on to beat the depleted New York Rangers 2-1 on Sunday night.
Justus Annunen only needed to stop 16 shots and was less than a minute from his first shutout since March 4, 2024, and the Predators first shutout of the season. Instead, Nashville settled for its fifth win in its last seven games.
Forsberg got his team-leading 16th goal of the season midway through the second period, and Stamkos added career goal 596 in the final minute.
Jonny Brodzinski scored his third of the season for the Rangers, who fell for the third time in four games.
Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick kept his team in the game by stopping 30 shots, but the 39-year-old fell to 0-4-1 in his last five decisions. New York has scored just two goals in Quick’s last two starts.
Forsberg put the Predators up midway through the second period. He was set up by a highlight-reel assist by Ryan O’Reilly, who delivered a behind-the-back pass from the high slot to Forsberg, whose one-timer from the right circle blew past Quick over his left shoulder.
Adam Wilsby got his fifth assist of the season on his pass along the boards that hit Forsberg in the neutral zone, and Forsberg fed his linemate for a rush opportunity.
New York was already hobbled with defenseman Adam Fox on long-term injured reserve and captain J.T. Miller not making the trip to Nashville after suffering an upper-body injury in Saturday’s home win over Philadelphia. However, the Rangers got a double dose of bad news just prior to the start of Sunday’s game when the team announced forwards Gabe Perreault and Matt Rempe would be late scratches due to illness.
That forced the Rangers to play 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
With Quick pulled for an extra attacker, Brodzinski scored with 35.9 seconds left to give the Rangers a chance for overtime. However, the Rangers never made a serious threat afterward.
