"This team has got the right energy, the right mentality and we just came in and tried to not get in the way; make sure we just rode the wave that they're on right now," Taylor said. "[We] had a few things here and there, make sure they had direction, make sure we executed the game plan properly, and so we were just trying to assist. But the coaching staff here has done a wonderful job with a great group of guys. You can just tell the energy and how they care about each other, how they didn't allow anything that occurred today [to phase them]."
"It's huge," Josi said of the win. "I could even see it at the end of the game, how happy we were to get the win. It was obviously a tough couple days. Even today, there's a lot going on, same thing for Colorado... Obviously, a lot of things that were out of our control, but I'm proud of our team and proud of the way we played. We came in and played well and got the win for our two coaches that got called up… That's huge for them and huge for our team. So, I'm really proud of how we handled today."
Even before the sun rose on Thursday, the Predators knew they were up for a challenge. Johansen was the first to enter COVID-19 protocol on Sunday in New York as he sat out a 1-0 win over the Rangers. Then, after returning to Nashville, the Preds learned their game against Calgary on Tuesday would be postponed.
On Wednesday came five more positive player tests for the Predators, as well as six additional positives among the team's traveling party, before Cousins and Hinote tested positive on Thursday morning.
Colorado wasn't immune either, and they dealt with positive tests from starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper and star defenseman Cale Makar prior to puck drop. In fact, Nashville resident Dustin Smith, who serves as Nashville's practice goalie from time to time, was Colorado's backup netminder on Thursday night.
Even so, both teams played, and the Predators came together to collect two more points.
"That just proves the depth of this organization," Forsberg said. "Obviously, we're missing some key players, but guys are stepping up, not just from Milwaukee, but in the lineup as well. Guys are being put in new roles and they're taking the opportunities and making the best out of them. It was fun to play tonight."
Forsberg was one of those leaders who helped take charge for Nashville, and his line with Sissons and Jeannot delivered. Sissons led the Preds with 25 minutes of ice time on the night to go with his three helpers, and with Jeannot's goal and assist, the trio combined for three goals and eight points on the evening.
"It was fun," Forsberg said of playing with his new linemates. "It was great to see how hard those two guys work every day, and the way they contribute in so many ways on this team is incredible. They play hard minutes on the penalty kill, they finish every hit and they make life miserable for the other team, and when I saw that we were going to play together, I was excited. Just to try to get on that and try to feed off their energy and kind of do my thing mixed in with theirs, and I thought all three of us had a good game. We definitely want to build on that tomorrow."