Fifty minutes into tonight’s game at Bridgestone Arena, it appeared as if the Nashville Predators’ luck – and then 17-game point streak – had finally run out. The top line of Filip Forsberg, Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O’Reilly had been held without a single point, and the visiting Golden Knights had a comfortable 4-1 lead.
11 minutes and 40 seconds later, Roman Josi scored the game-winner in overtime and the Predators and Jack Adams candidate Andrew Brunette were being serenaded by T-Pain’s “All I Do Is Win” and the Forsberg line had combined for three goals and eight points, pushing Nashville to 90 points and marched closer to what seems like an inevitable playoff berth with just ten games remaining.
With defenseman Alex Carrier announced as a late scratch due to a upper-body injury, NHL hits-leader Jeremy Lauzon slotted back in the lineup, returning from injury. However, the impact of Carrier’s loss was seen early, as the Knights scored twice in the game’s first 5:08 to give the Predators their first two-goal deficit since the points streak started last month. Nashville would get several golden opportunities in response, with both Tommy Novak and Luke Evangelista ringing shots off the crossbar, but were unable to beat Vegas’ goaltender Jiri Patera who started against the Milwaukee Admirals three days earlier in a shootout loss for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. The Predators still didn’t feel out of the game despite the scoreboard, but Shea Theodore would add a third Golden Knights tally with under 4 minutes remaining and Nashville went to the locker room in unfamiliar territory – down 3-0.
After returning for the middle frame, the Predators continued putting pressure on Vegas, outshooting the Golden Knights 15-8 in the second, and it would finally pay off with a Mark Jankowski goal with 5:27 left in the 2nd, finally getting the Predators on the board, down 3-1. But they wouldn’t have long to celebrate, as William Karlsson would answer 4:30 later, returning the Knight’s three goal lead, and once again Nashville went to the locker room with a three-goal deficit.
Early in the season, the Predators had been plagued with a rash of third-period collapses, but that was before the fabled cancelled U2 concert, and instead they decided to let Vegas have a turn this time. Ryan O’Reilly would reduce the deficit to two with his goal (assisted by Gus Nyquist) 5:52 into the third period, and the comeback started to feel possible.
Not to be outdone by his linemate, Filip Forsberg would score his 40th goal of the season (just four behind Matt Duchene’s franchise record) after an incredible sequence alongside Jason Zucker and Mark Jankowski – but Vegas would challenge for offsides, and the long replay didn’t inspire confidence that the goal would be upheld.
But it was.
As a result of losing the challenge, the Predators went on the power play down 4-3, and who else but the three-headed monster of Forsberg, O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist would answer the bell. Nyquist picked up his 20th goal of the year just 40 seconds into the powerplay and the Nashville Predators had – for the time – completed the comeback and tied it up with just over 7 minutes left in the game.
Despite a furious attempt by the visiting team to score and win the game in regulation, Nashville would hold on to force overtime, securing the 18-game point streak and remaining unbeaten in regulation during that period.
Andrew Brunette and the Predators entered the game 7-4 in overtime this season, and it was no surprise to see Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly take the ice for extra time. And of course, who else but the captain would take a Forsberg pass off the right half wall and in front of the net, beating Patera and sending Bridgestone Arena into chaos, completing the comeback and winning the game 5-4 to reach 90 points on the season.
Three Stars of the Game
Third Star: Nashville F Mark Jankowski – 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points
Second Star: Nashville F Ryan O’Reilly – 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points
First Star: Nashville D Roman Josi – 1 goal (game-winning goal)