(My Sportsbook) - Off to their worst start in franchise history, the Nashville Predators will open a three-game homestand on Tuesday after closing out a winless (0-0-1-2) road trip of the same length with a 2-2 tie in New York against the Rangers.

Last season the Predators were the only team in the NHL to not suffer an overtime loss (5-0-13), but the club suffered back-to-back such setbacks in losing to the Islanders and New Jersey Devils last week.

Nashville, however, played its most spirited game of the season against the Rangers on Saturday, but is still searching for its first win since April 6 of last year.

"We're pretty desperate right now for a win and I think we played our best game of the year so far," Cale Hulse told the Nashville City Paper. "It's only a point, but it is definitely something to build on."

New York led by a goal late in the second period when an errant pass off a face-off win led to a Rangers turnover. Nashville rookie Scottie Upshall raced to the loose puck and picked it up near center ice along the left boards. Upshall skated in on Mike Richter and beat the goaltender with a sharp wrister from the left circle that tied the game at 2-2, 14:11 into the frame.

The 19-year-old Upshall, who was the sixth-overall pick in this year's NHL draft, registered his first NHL goal with the tally.

"It was a great feeling to do it in a building with so much history in front such an amazing crowd," Upshall said after the game.

Nashville had the best chances in overtime with Richter making a chest save on Clarke Wilm, and David Legwand hitting the post with the net wide open.

"We weren't hanging on," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "I think the Rangers were hanging on. We were going after them. We deserved a better fate."

Hulse admitted late in the game the team was pressing late to try and get that elusive first victory. Dating back to last season, the Predators own an eight- game winless string (0-5-1-2)

"It would have been a heckuva trip to have come out with a win against them," Hulse said.

WHAT'S AHEAD

The Preds will try to get in the win column on Tuesday when they kick off their homestand with the Phoenix Coyotes, and will host San Jose and Detroit to close out the stand.