Predators Shut Down Kings 3–1 Behind Sundqvist, Allen, and Helenius

Preseason Game Eight: Predators 3 vs Kings 1

The Nashville Predators capped off another strong pre-season showing on Wednesday night with a 3–1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, powered by a blend of veteran leadership and youthful spark.

First Period – Early Punch, Quick Response

Nashville struck first at 8:43 when Mark Jankowski buried his first of the pre-season, finishing off a crisp setup from Oskar Sundqvist and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin. But the Kings wasted no time responding, as Pierre-Luc Dubois tied the game less than a minute later with help from Erik Haula and Justin Holl.

The opening frame ended knotted at 1–1, with the Kings holding a lopsided 13–4 edge in shots, testing Nashville goaltender Jake Allen early and often.

Second Period – Sundqvist Sparks the Lead

Momentum swung Nashville’s way early in the second. At just 1:29, Oskar Sundqvist found the back of the net, rifling home his fourth of the pre-season off a slick feed from Nick Jensen, with Nino Niederreiter also collecting an assist.

That goal not only gave the Predators a 2–1 lead but also settled the team’s rhythm, as they outshot Los Angeles 9–7 in the middle frame and tightened up defensively.

Third Period – Helenius Seals It

Rookie center Samuel Helenius added the insurance at 2:23 of the third, burying his first with Nashville. His finish came courtesy of Jensen (who tallied his second assist of the night) and Reilly Smith.

The Kings pressed late but were unable to solve Allen, who stood tall against 27 shots on the evening. The veteran netminder finished with 26 saves, posting a stellar .963 save percentage, and earned second-star honors.

Defensive Core Carries Load

While Sundqvist and Helenius grabbed the spotlight, Nashville’s blue line once again logged heavy minutes. Marcus Pettersson (26:54) and Jacob Trouba (25:58) anchored the group, while Brian Dumoulin added steady two-way play in over 22 minutes of action.

Nick Jensen was the quiet hero, contributing two assists and handling special-teams duty, despite racking up four penalty minutes.

Special Teams a Mixed Bag

Both teams went scoreless with the man advantage—Nashville finishing 0-for-5 and Los Angeles 0-for-3. The Predators’ penalty kill, however, was perfect, snuffing out all three Kings chances with a disciplined box and aggressive sticks.

Stars of the Game

1. Oskar Sundqvist (NSH) – Goal, assist, tone-setter
2. Jake Allen (NSH) – 26 saves, steady backbone
3. Samuel Helenius (NSH) – First goal in gold

Looking Ahead

The victory improves the Predators’ pre-season record to 3-5-0 as the team continues to balance testing its youth with giving its veterans sharpness ahead of the regular season.

Head coach Lane Lambert praised the effort: “We saw the kind of game we want to play—structured, opportunistic, and resilient. Jake gave us the backbone, and our depth came through.”

With just a few tune-ups left, roster battles are heating up, particularly among the bottom-six forwards. But if Wednesday’s result is any indication, Nashville looks ready to roll into October with confidence.