Nashville won because Annunen took a goal away from Minnesota and Stamkos put two in — that exchange decided everything.
Nashville controlled this game by building a two-goal buffer on even-strength depth scoring, then let Juuse Annunen absorb a third-period push that never had enough behind it. A Minnesota team that entered as a 102-point club left Bridgestone with one goal and no power-play production.
⚡TURNING POINT
Wood's goal at 6:34 of the second doubled Nashville's lead on a play Stamkos facilitated — suddenly Minnesota needed two, not one, against a goaltender who was actively suppressing expected offense. A two-goal deficit in period leverage terms requires sustained zone pressure Minnesota never generated until the margin was already decided.
🏆WHY NSH WON
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Annunen conceded 1.20 fewer goals than league-average goaltending on 22 shots — in a two-goal game, that margin was the difference between a win and a tied game.
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Nashville won 52.3% of faceoffs, converting territorial control in the neutral zone into the early structure that produced both goals entirely at even strength.
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Stamkos logged 21:33, posted a +2, and was directly involved in both goals — Nashville's offense ran through one player and it was enough.
📉WHY MIN LOST
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Minnesota's power play went 0-for-2, converting zero of its best offensive opportunities against a team it needed to chase.
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Twelve giveaways undercut sustained zone entry, limiting quality shot generation to a late, scoreboard-irrelevant surge.
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Minnesota generated its entire goal output in the third period with the game already beyond reach.
Three Stars
Steven Stamkos1st
NSH, C
1G1A2 points3 shots on goal+221:33 TOI
His direct involvement in both Nashville goals made him the single player who most determined the final score.
Matthew Wood2nd
NSH, R
1G2 shots on goal+110:27 TOI
His second-period goal was the turning point that forced Minnesota into a two-goal deficit with no power-play answer.
Justus Annunen3rd
NSH, G
SV% 0.95521/22 saves60:00 TOI
Annunen conceded 1.20 fewer goals than league average — that margin held the win through a 10-shot Minnesota third period.
·Momentum Shift
Minnesota generated 10 third-period shots to Nashville's one, a nine-shot swing that represents a complete territorial reversal. The shift came too late structurally — chasing two goals against below-average concession rates compresses the realistic outcome space to exactly what happened: one goal, one loss.
