Eeli Tolvanen scored a handsome goal when the NHL season started in Prague in front of 16,648 spectators.
Nashville winger Eeli Tolvanen scored the first Finnish goal of the NHL season. It was also the winning goal in the opening match of the season. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
The Nashville Predators, who finished eighth in the Western Conference last season, and the San Jose Sharks, who finished in 12th place, faced each other.
The balance of power did not change, as Nashville dominated the events and won 4–1.
The game clock only had 61 seconds left when the puck was already in the backpack. The opening goal of the season was scored by Nashville Kiefer Sherwood.
In the middle of the opening set, the crowd could cheer when the second most effective Czech player in the NHL last season Tomas Hertl smoothed out. Predators guard Juuse Saros was powerless, as Hertl got a lucky bounce on his shoulder and was able to shoot from close to the open spot.
The second period also started with a quick hit from Nashville when Eeli Tolvanen a laser-accurate wrist shot sank right into the top corner of the goal.
At the end of the set Dante Fabbro and Nino Niederreiter broke into a two-on-one attack, and the latter took Fabbro’s pass to give Nashville a 3–1 lead.
Mikael Granlund working as usual as Nashville’s number one center. He also opened his points account by entering Matt Duchene at the end, the 4–1 seal pressed into the void.
The teams will meet again in Prague on Saturday.