Nashville Predators Edge New York Rangers in 2-1 Victory

On December 21, 2025, the Nashville Predators secured a 2-1 victory against the New York Rangers at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Filip Forsberg opened the scoring for the Predators midway through the second period, netting his 16th goal of the season with a wrist shot over Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick. Ryan O'Reilly assisted on the play, extending his own point streak to seven games. Steven Stamkos sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute, while Jonny Brodzinski scored for the Rangers with just 35.9 seconds remaining, preventing Predators goaltender Justus Annunen from achieving a shutout.

New York Rangers fall short against resilient Nashville Predators, Forsberg extends point streak to eight games in shutout effortESPNNew York PostForsberg, Stamkos goals edge Nashville Predators past New York Rangers | TakeawaysNewsdayForsberg stays hot, helps Predators get past Rangers

The Predators improved their record to 15-16-4, marking a strong December with a 7-3-0 performance. Annunen made 16 saves, contributing to the team's recent success. The Rangers, now at 18-16-4, struggled offensively, managing only 17 shots on goal compared to Nashville's 32. Quick, despite the loss, had a standout performance with 30 saves, maintaining a goals-against average of 1.79 for the season.

New York Rangers fall short against resilient Nashville Predators, Forsberg extends point streak to eight games in shutout effort

Forsberg's goal extended his point streak to eight games, during which he has accumulated 11 points (seven goals, four assists). O'Reilly's contributions have also been significant, as he has recorded eight points during his streak. Quick's performance, while commendable, has not translated into wins, as the Rangers have scored only six goals in his last five starts.

New York Rangers fall short against resilient Nashville Predators, Forsberg extends point streak to eight games in shutout effort

Following the game, O'Reilly expressed optimism about the team's trajectory, stating, "We’re crawling back into this thing... It was pretty dark there for a while, but to everyone's credit, they're working hard." Conversely, Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck acknowledged the team's struggles, saying, "It just looked [expletive] dead," reflecting on their lack of offensive threat despite the depleted lineup.

Newsday

The Rangers faced significant challenges due to injuries and illness, missing key players including captain J.T. Miller, who is on injured reserve, and forwards Gabe Perreault and Matt Rempe. This led to a disjointed performance, with Trocheck noting the team's inability to play with pride. Critics have pointed out that Quick's strong individual performances are being wasted due to the team's offensive shortcomings.

Newsday

The Predators will look to continue their momentum with a matchup against the Minnesota Wild on December 23, 2025. Meanwhile, the Rangers must regroup quickly as they prepare to face the Washington Capitals, addressing their depth issues and seeking to improve their offensive output.

New York Rangers fall short against resilient Nashville Predators, Forsberg extends point streak to eight games in shutout effort

• “It was pretty dark there for awhile, but to everyones credit, they're working hard.” — Ryan O'Reilly, Nashville Predators

Forsberg, Stamkos goals edge Nashville Predators past New York Rangers | Takeaways

• “It just looked [expletive] dead.” — Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers

Newsday

• “Definitely, Quickie was unbelievable [Sunday night], and it definitely sucks when your goalie is playing like that and you’re not able to get any [goals],” — Braden Schneider, New York Rangers

New York Post

This game highlights the contrasting trajectories of the two teams, with Nashville finding its stride while New York grapples with injuries and inconsistent performances.

New York Rangers fall short against resilient Nashville Predators, Forsberg extends point streak to eight games in shutout effort