Craig Smith fights for the puck along with L.A.'s Jarret Stoll

The Predators welcome L.A. back to Nashville Tuesday night, expecting to send them packing once more with another loss. However, the Kings had other plans on their schedule, seeking to overthrow the Nashville Predators at home and slip that much closer to the playoff cutoff spot. Although the Predators are safe (for now), the L.A. Kings aren’t as lucky and needed the win in Nashville to move up to bump the San Jose Sharks. Here are the highlights from Tuesday night’s game:

KEY NOTES:

• Jack Hillen, Matt Halischuk, Brandon Yip, and Brian McGrattan found themselves on the scratched list, along with Kevin Klein, who is still battling an undisclosed upper-body injury.
• The Kings wasted no time taking the lead, with Justin Williams scoring his 14th goal of the season at 6:16 with a wrist shot past Pekka Rinne.
• Patric Hornqvist would tie the game up at 18:41 with this 19th goal of the season. Andrei Kostitsyn and Ryan Suter picked up the assists on Horny’s goal.
• Unfortunately, even before Hornqvist’s goal could be announced, Justin Williams slipped in and sealed his 15th goal of the season at 18:53 with a back-hander into the net.
• Martin Erat would tie the game up once again at 9:16 in the 2nd Period with a wrist shot past Jonathan Quick. Mike Fisher and Roman Josi picked up the assists on Erat’s 15th goal of the season.
• L.A. would put themselves in the lead for the third time of the game at 12:21 with a wrist shot by Drew Doughty. This was Doughty’s 8th goal of the season.
• Sergei Kostitsyn would help continue to back and forth match by sealing his 16th goal of the season at 14:05. Completely unassisted, SK74’s goal would leave the two teams tied into the 3rd Period.
• The Kings reminded the Predators of who wanted to win more with a goal at 1:15 in the 3rd. With his 4th goal of the season, Matt Greene sent a slap shot soaring past Pekka Rinne.
• Trevor Lewis sealed his 3rd goal of the season at 3:00, putting the Kings up 5-3 over the Predators early in the 3rd Period.
• Patric Hornqvist will nail his second goal of the night at 14:42 for his 20th goal of the season, but it just wasn’t enough to send the game into OT. Andrei Kostitsyn and Ryan Suter picked up the assists on Horny’s goal.
• It was clear that Pekka was having an off night, but unfortunately, it wasn’t just him. The entire team looked disheveled and off, never good when playing against a team hungry for a playoff position. Pekka took 28 shots, blocking 23 of those on net. It’s been a while since Peks has let 5 or more pucks fly passed him, but off days happen, especially with as many games as he starts.
• The Predators only gave the Kings three chances on the power play, but with the way the team played, even one misstep had a major impact on the Predators. Here are the boys who took some penalty time:

1. Jordin Tootoo – 9:48 1st Period – Roughing
2. Nick Spaling – 3:21 2nd Period – Cross Checking
3. Jordin Tootoo – 13:19 3rd Period – Misconduct (10 Minutes)

The Predators took a tough loss against the L.A. Kings, a team they were expected to beat once again at home. The Predators continue their home stretch by welcoming the Colorado Avalanche back to Nashville on Thursday and the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. The puck drops at 7PM for both games.

Until then,
GO PREDS.

(Photo credit: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)