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Craig Smith’s hat trick leads Predators over Islanders

AP photo by Mark Humphrey / Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok, left, puts a cap on right wing Craig Smith after he scored his third goal of the night during the second period of Thursday's home game against the New York Islanders. It was the first hat trick of the 30-year-old Smith's NHL career. AP photo by Mark Humphrey / Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok, left, puts a cap on right wing Craig Smith after he scored his third goal of the night during the second period of Thursday's home game against the New York Islanders. It was the first hat trick of the 30-year-old Smith's NHL career.

By JIM DIAMOND / The Associated Press February 14, 2020 3 min read

NASHVILLE – Craig Smith scored three goals and Juuse Saros made 31 saves to help the Nashville Predators beat the New York Islanders 5-0 on Thursday night.

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

New York had won two games 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 past five games, Saros recorded his second shutout of the season and the ninth of his NHL career.

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