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Nashville Predators 3, Montreal Canadiens 2 (OT): Hab Nots, Forsberg Nets the Winner

Posted on by Anish Patel

It was a playoff atmosphere at the Bridgestone Arena tonight as the Predators and the Canadiens went head to head. It was also a battle of two of the top goalies in the game today. Both made some tremendous saves, but in the end it was Rinne who came away with the win.

Nashville got the scoring started with a great goal in the first by Mattias Ekholm. Brendan Gallagher got the Canadiens on the board with a tally in the second period. Montreal wasn’t done there in the second as David Desharnais scored to give the Canadiens a one goal lead half way through the game. Nashville caught some luck with a wacky bounce of the puck by a shot from Ryan Ellis that snuck past Price. Filip Forsberg won it for the Preds in overtime to give the Preds the crucial two points.

Random Observations

  • Maybe rest is all the Predators needed to get back to their old selves. They had a great showing on Saturday night against Buffalo, and are has another solid start to this one tonight. There was a lot of energy and urgency right out of the gate.
  • Wow, what a goal from Ekholm. Carey Price didn’t know what to do on that one.
  • Pekka Rinne has to be one of the best goalies when facing more shots as the game goes along. It’s like every shot gets more and more comfortable for him to stop. He faced 12 shots in the first period and looked solid on all of them.
  • Going back to Ekholm’s goal for a minute. That was the first goal Price allowed in 166 minutes of play. That’s more than two and a half games of a straight shutout. Yeah, he is kinda good.
  • That first period was one of the best periods the Preds have played since January it feels like. They had a ton of energy and never let off the gas the entire time.
  • Kevin Fiala has impressed me so far. His hockey IQ is off the charts. He seems like he always knows what to do with the puck. I can’t wait till he is a regular in the Predator gold. And not to mention that pass to Mike Fisher on the 3-on-1.
  • Nashville responded nicely after the second goal by Montreal was scored. They didn’t sit back and let the Canadiens get set up. They stuck to their game plan, and almost got a goal just seconds after the goal. This team has definitely improved in that aspect over the last few weeks.
  • Here is your weekly dose of “what a save by Rinne” observation.
  • It has been a while since we have seen a lucky bounce go the Preds’ way. They finally got one of those tonight, and it was at a much needed time in the game.
  • Look like Colin Wilson was credited with a secondary assist on the Ellis goal. That is his 100th of his career.
  • Rinne and Price both have the capability of carrying their teams through the playoffs. Hopefully we get a chance to see these two duel it out for a Stanley Cup.

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  • Mattias Ekholm: He scored a highlight reel goal on Price. Scoring on Price alone deserves a spot here.
  • Kevin Fiala: The only thing that would have made this night more of a success is if he got on the score sheet.
  • Pekka Rinne: He is the reason this game got to OT to begin with./

Tweets Of The Night

Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – War-on-Ice – HockeyStats – Natural Stat Trick

Roll the video highlights…


Talking Points