Sam Gagner scored three goals, ending a 17-game drought that lasted nearly a year, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Thursday night.
Luke Glendening and Adam Erne 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.
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Sam Gagner scored three goals, ending a 17-game drought that lasted nearly a year, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Thursday night.
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.
Rinne, who shut out the Red Wings on Tuesday night, had 28 saves.
The Predators tied it at 14:15 when Granlund went to the net and backhanded the rebound of Roman Josi’s shot past Bernier.
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.
ON THE MOVE
Predators: Return home to host the Columbus Blue Jackets in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jon Merrill (24) and Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) battle for position in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
Nashville Predators left wing Erik Haula (56) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula scored for the Predators.
Nashville Predators center Mikael Granlund (64) loses his edge as Detroit Red Wings right wing Bobby Ryan (54) defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
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.
Nashville Predators center Mikael Granlund (64) scores on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
Rinne, who shut out the Red Wings on Tuesday night, had 28 saves.
Detroit has won two of its last three and prevented Nashville from recording its first three-game win 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.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) stops a Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) shot as Marc Staal (18) defends in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
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.
BEEN A WHILE
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier (45) stops the puck as Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) falls in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
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.
HELPFUL
Josi has 12 assists in his last 12 games against Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings center Sam Gagner (89) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
ON THE MOVE
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.
UP NEXT
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) stops a Detroit Red Wings shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
Predators: Return home to host the Columbus Blue Jackets in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday.
Red Wings: Travel to Chicago for back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday.
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Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) stops the puck as Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) tries to play the rebound as Ben Harpur (17) defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jon Merrill (24) and Nashville Predators center Matt Duchene (95) battle for position in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)
Nashville Predators left wing Erik Haula (56) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP PhotoPaul Sancya)