Los Angeles Kings vs Nashville Predators Match Player Stats On Feb 21, 2019

Defenseman Roman Josi had a goal with an assist to help the Nashville Predators move into first place in the Central Division thanks to a 2-1 home victory over the reeling Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Pekka Rinne made several key saves and 28 total for the Predators, who now sit one point ahead of the slumping Winnipeg Jets for the Central lead. Nashville has won two straight and three of four following an 0-2-1 slide.

"A win's a win," Predators forward Kyle Turris said. "We'll take it and run."

Los Angeles, last in the Western Conference, matched a season high with its sixth straight defeat. It was also the Kings' fifth consecutive loss to Nashville.

The Predators entered the game with the league's worst power play (12.6 percent), but Turris successfully one-timed a sleek feed from Filip Forsberg with the man-advantage 8:50 into the game. It was only the second goal in Turris' past 17 contests.

Nashville went up 2-0 just 46 seconds into the second period. Josi stayed hot by putting home a backhanded drop pass from Viktor Arvidsson, who was a game-time decision after missing the morning skate. Josi has seven goals and 14 assists in the past 19 games.

Los Angeles eventually made things interesting as Michael Amadio scored 9:24 into the third. It was his fourth of the season and second in his past two contests.

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 27 shots while losing his fourth consecutive start.

Earlier Thursday, Los Angeles traded veteran forward Carl Hagelin to the Washington Capitals for a third-round draft pick this year and a conditional sixth-rounder in 2020. Hagelin, acquired by the Kings from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a November deal for Tanner Pearson, had just one goal and four assists in 22 games for Los Angeles.

Nashville, meanwhile, announced Thursday that forward Craig Smith was placed on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. He has 16 goals and 13 assists in 61 games this season.

--Field Level Media