NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brady Skjei and Filip Forsberg each scored twice and the Nashville Predators snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and two assists, Tommy Novak also scored and Ryan O’Reilly had a career-high four assists for the Predators. Justus Annunen made 25 saves.
Alex Tuch had a goal and two assists, Bowen Byram and Rasmus Dahlin both had a goal and an assist and Dylan Cozens also scored for the Sabres, whose season-best four-game winning streak came to an end.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves.
Nashville led 2-0 halfway through the first period on goals by Novak and Skjei, but the Sabres answered later with goals from Byram and Dahlin.
The Predators regained the lead with 5:29 remaining in the second on Forsberg's first of the game. Skjei struck again 42 seconds later from the slot for his first two-goal game as a Predator.
Forsberg and Cozens traded third-period goals.
Sabres: Buffalo couldn’t extend its winning streak despite playing against a Predators team that played in Chicago on Friday night.
Predators: Nashville is far outside of the playoff picture, but they did end a long losing streak with a victory before the long break.
Buffalo appeared to tie the game 5-5 with 6:58 remaining in the third on a goal by Zach Benson, but the Predators challenged and a video review determined the play was offside and the goal was taken off the board.
With his first-period goal, Byram recorded his 100th career NHL point. He later added an assist for his 101st.
Following the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sabres host the New York Rangers and the Predators host the Colorado Avalanche, both on Feb. 22.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
FILE - Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) watches during an NHL hockey game, Jan. 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
FILE - Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault looks to pass during an NHL hockey game, Jan. 18, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
FILE - Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) warms up before an NHL hockey game, Dec. 21, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Enzo Maresca left his post as Chelsea head coach on Thursday after a reported deterioration in his relationship with the Premier League club’s hierarchy.
The Italian coach was midway through his second season in charge. In his first season, he won the Conference League and Club World Cup.
Last month, Maresca said he had experienced his “worst” 48 hours at Chelsea and expressed his unhappiness at a lack of support at the club, but didn’t go into specific reasons.
Chelsea is in fifth place in the Premier League, but has won just one of its last seven league matches, and has advanced to the English League Cup semifinals, where it will play Arsenal over two legs.
“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football," Chelsea said in a statement, "Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”
Chelsea is coming off a 2-2 home draw against Bournemouth in the league on Tuesday, and next plays second-place Manchester City away on Sunday.
The club said Chelsea's achievements under Maresca “will remain an important part of the club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the club.”
There was no immediate word on his potential successor, with Chelsea seeking a fifth full-time manager since the takeover of the club by American investors, fronted by Todd Boehly, in May 2022.
In the past 3 1/2 years, Chelsea has spent hundreds of million of pounds (dollars) in what looked from the outside a chaotic bid to sign players to refresh its squad. It now has one of the youngest and most talented squads in the Premier League, with star players including Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Estevao, but managers have struggled to get the players to gel as a team after so many changes.
Out of all the managers to have led Chelsea in that period — and they include Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, the current coaches of England and the United States, respectively — Maresca appeared to have handled the chaos the best.
Yet he reportedly didn't feel appreciated given the tough working conditions and, according to the BBC, recently switched agents. A few weeks ago, media reports in England linked Maresca with a possible move to Man City — where he briefly worked under Pep Guardiola — should Guardiola eventually leave, though Maresca played the reports down.
Chelsea's results have taken a downturn in recent weeks, since a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League in November.
The team's only league win in the past month was a 2-0 over Everton. There have been draws with Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth (twice) and losses to Leeds and Aston Villa.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Chelsea, in Bergamo, Italy, on Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
FILE - Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca sits on a bench ahead of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Qarabag and Chelsea in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo, File)
Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca, left, gives instructions to Estevao during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
