The New York Islanders started off their four-game road trip on the wrong foot, falling 5-0 to a Nashville Predators team that really needed the points and arguably played their “best game of the season,” according to the hometown announcing crew.
Thomas Greiss was pulled 13:33 into the first period after giving up three goals on eight shots. With Semyon Varlamov taking over in the Islanders net, Craig Smith completed his first career hat trick to make it 5-0 in the second period. Juuse Saros made 31 saves for the shutout, including 14 saves in the tone-setting first period.