One of the Predators’ many problems last season was that, all too often, they failed to save their best for last.

Third periods were a problem for the Preds, who were outscored 95-69 over the last 20 minutes of games in 2024-25, a minus-26 goal differential that was third worst in the NHL.

All too often, the Predators trailed in third periods, which led to taking too many chances, which in turn resulted in the team surrendering too many high-quality opportunities.

“I think last year we would try to force something,” Predators center Ryan O’Reilly said, “or we got caught on our heels a bit.”

So here were the Preds in their season opener Thursday, heading into the final 20 minutes tied 1-1.

Columbus had controlled the majority of play through the first two periods, outshooting Nashville 28-18 and producing nine high-danger chances to just four for the Predators, per Natural Stat Trick.

It had not, up until that point, been a particularly inspired effort by Nashville, which featured four players who weren’t on the roster last season: center Brady Martin, center Erik Haula, forward Tyson Jost and defenseman Nick Perbix.

“I thought we were a little nervous,” Preds coach Andrew Brunette said. “We had a lot of guys [playing] their first opening night in a Predator jersey, whether young kids or guys who just came into the lineup. So I thought at first, we were kind of feeling the game out a little bit, not as sharp as we wanted to be.”

But instead of fading away in the third, the Predators (1-0) did just the opposite at Bridgestone Arena, playing their best period of the night to earn a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jackets (0-1).

It began in the early going, when O’Reilly used some tricky stickwork in front of the net to score Nashville’s first power-play goal of the season, giving the Preds a 2-1 lead 2:41 into the final frame.

That goal seemed to lift the confidence of the Predators, who would go on to outshoot the Blue Jackets 13-10 over the final 20 minutes, winning the scoring chance battle 8-5 and producing three high-danger chances to the Blue Jackets’ one.

“I thought [the Blue Jackets] were better for two, and then in the third period, I thought we played really well,” Preds forward Filip Forsberg said. “Took it to them. Got the power play goal and kind of dominated the rest of the match, and didn’t give them too much.”

O’Reilly said he was particularly impressed by the Predators’ energy on the bench and by the team’s communication, two areas that are vital to establish in the early going of the season.

“You could see how we were tough to play against in that third period,” O’Reilly said. “We were everywhere … That’s one of the foundations we have to have is being [like] that, especially in this building and how electric it is. We want to make it a tough place to play.

“So scoring that goal in the third… and then shutting it down, not giving them anything, is huge.”

The Preds return to action Saturday at 7 p.m. when they host Utah (0-1) at Bridgestone.