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Predators’ Effort Overshadowed by Wild’s Storm in Costly 4–2 Loss

Preseason Game Six: Minnesota Wild 4 vs Nashville Predators 2

9/29/2025 • Neil Burkholder

Predators’ Effort Overshadowed by Wild’s Storm in Costly 4–2 Loss

By [Sports Columnist], Nashville Tennessean

Minneapolis, MN — For a brief moment Monday night, the Predators silenced the crowd. Oskar Sundqvist’s power-play strike early in the first had the building dead quiet, and it felt like maybe — just maybe — the Predators were about to turn a corner.

But then came the second period. And with it, another reminder of why this Nashville team hasn’t yet found its footing.

The Collapse That Stung

It was Mikko Rantanen who broke Nashville’s momentum, scoring twice in a four-minute span that left Jake Allen exposed and Predators fans deflated. When Bobby McMann punched in a power-play goal to make it 4–1, the Predators looked stunned. The spark, the energy, the confidence — it all evaporated.

Yes, rookie Eduard Sale gave fans something to cling to with his first DCHL goal late in the frame. The 19-year-old’s grin said it all, his teammates swarming him as the crowd was silent. But even that feel-good moment couldn’t erase the reality: the Predators were chasing, again.

A Push That Fell Short

To their credit, Nashville battled. The third period saw wave after wave of pressure, pucks thrown at Thatcher Demko from every angle. But Demko was impenetrable, stopping all nine shots in the frame and 21 overall. Every glove save, every pad stop seemed to hammer home the same message — not tonight.

Jake Allen, left hanging too often by his defense, finished with 22 saves but slipped to 1-5-0 on the year.

Trouba’s Night a Mixed Bag

Captain Jacob Trouba was everywhere — registering an assist, throwing hits, and logging over 23 minutes — but two penalties in critical spots hurt. It was a night that mirrored Nashville’s own: effort wasn’t the issue, execution was.

Searching for Answers

Through six games, the Predators’ season already feels like it’s teetering. The hits are there (23 against Minnesota), the faceoff wins too (38), but the discipline is not. One poor stretch of hockey can undo an entire night’s work, and that’s a theme Nashville must shake if it hopes to stay competitive.

For now, the Predators head back to the drawing board, clinging to small victories — Sale’s milestone, Sundqvist’s steady scoring touch — while the bigger picture remains as frustrating as ever.