After a long road trip - for what seemed like months - the Nashville Predators returned home to Bridgestone Arena for their first of two games before the All-Star break. Colin Wilson made his return to the lineup. Prior to the game, General Manager David Poile told 102.5 the Game that Roman Josi was skating with the team and will likely return after the All-Star break.

Juuse Saros stopped everything thrown his way in the first period. He may only be 5’11, but he plays like he’s Ben Bishop’s size. Filip Forsberg got the guys in gold on the board with his 15th goal of the season - shorthanded too, I might add. Cody McLeod introduced himself to the Nashville fans by scrapping with Marcus Foligno.

The second period got a little more scrappy, there were more hits and worse defense on both sides. Buffalo tied it up on a goal from Zemgus Girgensons - who had a wide open net. Cody McLeod gave the Preds back the lead, but not after it went to video review. Everyone held their breath waiting to hear the dreaded “intent to blow” but no dice and the goal stood. Moments later - on a defensive breakdown - Jack Eichel was left wide open in the corner and he made the Preds pay for it, tying it 2-2.

Viktor Arvidsson scored his 12th goal of the season on the power play, and the Preds regained the lead early in the third. James Neal saw how much fun Arvidsson had, so he decides he wants in on it and scores his 17th of the year on a sweet pass from Calle Jarnkrok. Some more bad defense by Nashville and Buffalo makes it 4-3 and they are on the door step. Buffalo now with the extra attacker, and Kyle Okposo ties it 4-4. This one will need overtime.

In the extra period, Nashville looked all sorts of confused and Buffalo capitalizes. Guess who? Jack Eichel completes the comeback and Buffalo takes this one 5-4 in overtime.

Random Observations

• What a luxury it is having Juuse Saros to spell Pekka and give the elder Finn more rest
• Cody McLeod loves a good fight
• Filip F. Forsberg strikes again; that is his 12th goal in his last 18 games
• The Preds are playing this first period like the team we all expected at the beginning of the season
• Saros makes saves that goalies under 6’0 should not make
• The trend of former Predators coming back to hurt them continues as Cody Franson earns an assist on that Sabres goal
• Cody McLeod puts the Preds ahead, he has been a pleasant addition
• This game has no business being tied right now...
• Arrrrrrrrrrvidsson does it again. That makes 12 for him this year, and something tells me he’s going to push 25 goals this year
• James Neal playing any goals you score, I can score more with Filip Forsberg
• You cannot give Jack Eichel that much room to score

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Night

1. Cody McLeod - he lays a huge hit; I mean yuge! Then drops the gloves. Then he strips in the penalty box. This kid has been quite the mid-season transaction!
2. Filip Forsberg - Is anyone hotter right now than Filip Forsberg? The answer is no. He leads the league in goals since Dec. 19.
3. James Neal - he scored his team leading 17th goal and gave the Preds a two-goal cushion

Tweets of the Night

Game Extras

Game Stats

Game Photos

HockeyStats

Natural Stat Trick

Game Video