Smith's hat trick leads Predators over Islanders 5-0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Craig Smith scored three times, Juuse Saros made 31 saves and the Nashville Predators beat the New York Islanders 5-0 on Thursday night.

Rocco Grimaldi had a goal and an assist and Mattias Ekholm also scored for Nashville, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

New York had won two in a row. Thomas Greiss allowed three goals on eight shots before he was replaced by Semyon Varlamov, who made 16 saves.

Making his fourth start in Nashville’s last five games, Saros recorded his second shutout of the season and ninth of his career.

“It always helps with the rhythm and everything feels more natural playing more, so it’s been good,” Saros said.

It was Smith's first career hat trick. Prior to Thursday, Smith had 19 two-goal games, including two this season.

“It was great,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities to get it, so it was nice.”

Smith scored just 35 seconds into the opening period.

Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy had the puck in the right circle. Smith lifted Leddy’s stick, took the puck and then beat Greiss with a quick wrist shot on the short side just underneath the crossbar.

“I just like the way he comes to the rink every day,” Nashville coach John Hynes said of Smith. “He’s a real coachable guy. He’s got good energy about himself. He’s focused.”

Smith got his second at 7:41 of the first.

Behind the New York net, Grimaldi sent a hard pass to Smith in the slot, where he beat Greiss with a wrist shot.

“We didn’t have a very good start,” Islanders captain Anders Lee said. “We gave them a lot of opportunities and they buried three of them in the first period. We had our chances, but it just wasn’t a good enough effort to get us going in the game tonight.”

Ekholm chased Greiss when he converted a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle 13:33 into the first.

In the first meeting of the season between the teams Dec. 17 on Long Island, Greiss allowed five goals on 15 shots.

“Our effort and our focus on execution and turnovers were not good tonight,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “I didn't like our mindset tonight. There's no way we're going to win any games with that mindset.”

Grimaldi beat Varlamov 4:41 into the second and Smith scored again at 11:38. Smith got his 16th of the season off a pass from Predators captain Roman Josi.

Game notes
Country music singer Luke Bryan performed the national anthem. ... IBF Super Middleweight champion Caleb Plant attended the game. ... Nashville C Calle Jarnkrok recorded his 100th career NHL assist… The Islanders are 6-4-0 against Central Division teams this season.

UP NEXT

Islanders: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

Predators: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.