Josi powers Predators past Senators for 6th straight win

NASHVILLE -- Roman Josi had two goals and an assist for the Nashville Predators, who extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Gustav Nyquist had a goal and two assists for the Predators (33-25-2), who opened a five-game homestand after winning five straight on the road for the first time in their history. Juuse Saros made 24 saves.

“I think we’re just playing really well as a team,” Josi said. “I think it helps everyone. Our power play has been getting better again toward the end of the road trip. I think we’re all getting more familiar with the system and getting more comfortable with the system. The same goes for me. We want to keep this momentum and keep playing that same way.”

Joonas Korpisalo made 32 saves for the Senators (25-29-3), who have lost consecutive games after going 10-3-3 in their previous 16. The Senators lost 6-3 to the Washington Capitals on Monday.

“There’s definitely things we need to clean up,” Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said. “It’s frustrating and a frustrating game last night. I don’t really know what else to say.”

Michael McCarron gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 3:23 of the first period on a turnaround shot from the left circle off a pass from Josi.

“We had a good start,” McCarron said. “We came out ready to go. We’ve got a good thing going right now. We’re all clicking, we’re all on the same page, and we’re all pulling the same rope, too. Everybody is buying into their role right now and playing well.”

Josi gave the Predators a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal at 5:44, scoring with a slap shot from the point off a pass from Nyquist.

Drake Batherson cut it to 2-1 with his own power-play goal at 18:58, a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Jake Sanderson.

“I thought we battled hard in the second period,” Senators coach Jacques Martin said. “I thought we had some great chances. I mean, I know they scored the goal, but I thought we outchanced them in the second. I think it was 5-2. I thought we were short in manpower, but I thought we battled hard and did a good job. And then in the third we just ran out of gas.”

Josi gave the Predators a 3-1 lead at 18:31 of the second period, taking a pass from Nyquist and using a backhand-to-forehand move to beat Korpisalo glove side on a rush.

“It was a great breakout pass by [Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh],” Nyquist said. “I knew Roman likes to join the rush with speed. I just tried to hold on to the puck and get it to him in a good spot, and he made a really nice move.”

Nyquist then gave the Predators a 4-1 lead at 13:12 of the third period on the rebound of Filip Forsberg's shot from the slot.

The Senators did not have a shot on goal in the third period (outshot 19-0).

“That’s probably one of our best third periods this year,” Josi said. “Especially being up 3-1, I felt like we had the puck most of the period, playing in their zone. That next goal is so big with a 3-1 lead. That was great. That’s how you want to play every time you have the lead. Obviously, it’s not that easy, but it was really good tonight.”

Senators forward Josh Norris left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury after colliding with Predators forward Cole Smith.

“The effort was there, it’s just a matter of playing more in the offensive zone,” Martin said. “I think when we lost Norris it affected our line combinations. I thought in the second period if we could have gotten the tying goal instead of giving them the third goal, it could’ve given us some life in the third.”

NOTES: Ottawa defenseman Travis Hamonic left the game in the third period. There was no update on either Hamonic or Norris. … It was the second time in team history that the Predators didn’t allow a shot on goal in the third period of a game. The other was a 2-1 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 16, 2008.