The Preds’ struggles continued once they got home, though they did see some contributions on the scoreboard from some of the players they’d needed to get them from.
Jonathan Marchessault opened the scoring after a slow start for the Preds, tipping a Steven Stamkos shot at 7:45 of the first. The Flames got it back, however, as Nazem Kadri got one past Juuse Saros a few moments later, and then Tommy Novak restored the Preds’ lead just thirty seconds after that.
The second period was a livelier affair, and tilted more thoroughly the Flames’ way. Kevin Rooney tied the game again early, and while Marchessault scored his second of the night to give the Preds a lead again at 7:41, that was about the last thing that went right for Nashville.
With the Preds hemmed into their own zone and Saros facing sustained pressure, Brayden Pachal finally broke through after several agonizing minutes to tie the game 3-3, and then a late penalty from Mark Jankowski allowed Jonathan Huberdeau give the Flames their first lead of the night on the power play — which hurt even more because it wasn’t just at 18:41 of the period, but 1:53 of the minor.
Nashville rallied weakly to end the second, but weren’t able to carry that momentum into the third, or to score on a power play of their own halfway through the period. With Saros pulled for the extra attacker, they made an attempt, but still fell short.