How Filip Forsberg responded to Andrew Brunette calling out Nashville Predators' leaders
When coach Andrew Brunette called out his players after the Nashville Predators' 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, he targeted the team's veteran leaders specifically.
In the team's next game, one of them responded.
Filip Forsberg finished with two goals, one assist and a career-high 10 shots on goal in the Predators' 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena.
"A little bit of a statement of what we can do," Forsberg said after the win, which ended a four-game losing streak. "It hasn't been the standard lately, so keep building towards that being the standard for us."
Forsberg's first goal broke a 2-2 tie in the second period to give the Predators their first lead of the night. On the play, he carried the puck into the zone, fired a shot on Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, then jumped on the rebound to send the puck into the net.
Not only was it an example of what Forsberg can do when he's at his best, it shows what the Predators can do when their best players are playing like it.
"It was some really good positive energy," Brunette said after the win. "I thought the effort was really good tonight."
Forsberg, who added an empty net goal to seal the win, is in the third year of an eight-year contract he signed in July 2022. After a 48-goal campaign in 2023-24, he was expected to carry the Predators' offense again, but was unable to match his scoring pace in the first few months. He has 27 goals and 37 assists and likely will finish as the team's leading goal scorer for the second straight season.
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But Forsberg wasn't the only player bringing his best on Saturday. Luke Evangelista also finished with three points, including his seventh goal of the season, which put the Predators up 4-2 in the third period.
"I hope this catapults (Evangelista) where he builds on it and keeps it going," Brunette said. "For him, Saturday night in Smashville and 'Hockey Night in Canada,' being a Toronto kid, it's a big deal. So hopefully this gives him some confidence, a little mojo."
Evangelista now has seven goals and 15 assists in his second season with Nashville.
Next up, the Predators head on the road, taking on the St. Louis Blues on Sunday (5 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network).
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Filip Forsberg responded to Brunette calling out Predators players
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