Predators score twice in third, defeat Kings for first win

Matt Duchene and Tanner Jeannot scored in the third period to lift the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 comeback win against the Los Angeles Kings at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Tuesday.

Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (1-2-0). Filip Forsberg played in his 500th NHL game.
"I'm happy for the guys," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "We've played some good hockey and haven't gotten rewarded for it. Tonight we got rewarded for the work they put into training camp."
Anze Kopitar scored for the third straight game for the Kings (1-2-0). Cal Petersen made 29 saves, including a second-period penalty shot by Forsberg.
"That's a good learning lesson for us today," Kings forward Phillip Danault said. "We've got to push, and we've got to score more goals for sure. It will come. It's just a matter of time."
The Predators tied the game 1-1 on Duchene's power-play goal at 1:07 of the third period. Duchene popped in the rebound of Roman Josi's shot for his first goal of the season. The power play opportunity came after Sean Walker took a cross-checking penalty at the expiration of the second period.
"I thought the last three minutes (of the second period) set up the third," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "From there, against a team that checks the way they do, and their goaltender, it's tough to come back."

Hynes felt the Predators were ready to break through in the final 20 minutes.
"Down by one going into the third period, I think we felt pretty good about our game," Hynes said. "We knew special teams were going to have to make a difference and it did tonight, so it was good to see."
The Predators went up 2-1 when Jeannot converted a Colton Sissons pass across the slot through two defenders at 5:06.
"We were playing how we wanted to play, hard on the forecheck," Jeannot said. "We got the shot from the point, [Sissons] got the puck, and I just tried to find the back door and he found me. So it was pretty easy to tap that one in."
Kopitar scored his fifth goal of the season on a wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle to give the Kings a 1-0 lead at 4:38 of the second period.

Nashville started the season with a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, followed by a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
"These past two games, against Carolina and (Los Angeles), I feel we've been playing to our identity, the way we want to," Jeannot said. "Maybe the goals weren't going in for us, but in the third period, we finally got some behind the goalie. We want to keep going and use this momentum."
Duchene said he also believes the Predators are headed in the right direction.
"We got that first win, now we can keep building," Duchene said. "I think we've gotten better every game in all areas, but I think it's a good start to the season for us."
Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson, who played his first seven seasons for the Predators, played his first game against his former team. Arvidsson was traded to Los Angeles on July 1.
NOTES: The Predators are 8-1-2 against the Kings in their last 10 meetings in Nashville. Predators forward Tommy Novak had two shots and one blocked shot in 9:29 in his NHL debut. Matt Benning, a defenseman, played his first game of the season, replacing Philippe Myers, who played in Nashville's first two games. … Kings defenseman Drew Doughty had his sixth assist and is tied for the NHL lead with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.