NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The two-game, Fathers Weekend road trip had started off so perfectly for the Rangers, with a blowout win in Detroit on Thursday, and hopes were high for a sweep when the Blueshirts moved on to Music City for the trip finale.
But the Rangers could not build on the momentum from their win Thursday over Detroit. The Nashville Predators, wallowing near the bottom of the NHL’s Central Division, got the first two goals of the game and hung on to beat the Rangers, 2-1, dealing the Blueshirts their third regulation loss in five games.
The Rangers pumped 35 shots at Nashville, outshooting the Predators 35-18 in the game, but they couldn’t solve Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros, not even when they were given a golden chance to grab the equalizer when they were presented with a four-minute power play with 6:19 left in regulation. But their power play, normally their most dangerous weapon, came up empty late and finished 0 for 5 overall.
