Gagner's hat trick leads Red Wings past Predators
DETROIT (AP) — 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.
Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula scored for the Predators.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports