Predators win inaugural game on Thursday

Nashville Jr. Predators 3 @ Topeka Capitals 2 (SO) – The Nashville Jr. Predators won their inaugural game as a team as they defeated the Topeka Capitals on the road by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The game was very even throughout as Topeka outshot Nashville by just one at 24-23. Dylan Wattles got the scoring going in the 1st period for the Capitals with a goal halfway through the period. That was answered late in the 2nd period by Nashville’s Trent Kulczyk, who scored the first goal in team history on the power play. Topeka regained the lead midway through the 3rd period on a tally from Igor Valko on the power play, but just a minute later, Rudy Kalvitis tied things up at 2-2 for Nashville.  After a scoreless overtime, the game would be decided in a shootout, where Nashville got two goals from Jacob Lainesse and Alex Durand, while Jr. Predators netminder Nathan Klebe shut the door on all the Capitals shooters.  Klebe made 22 saves in the win, while Brett Malkmus took the loss, making 20 saves. Boxscore