Gus Nyquist and Filip Forsberg each scored twice, but Lucas Raymond scored the game winner in overtime to give Detroit two points and the win.
Gus Nyquist and Filip Forsberg each scored twice, but Lucas Raymond scored the game winner in overtime to give Detroit two points and the win.
The Nashville Predators headed to Little Caesars Arena to take on the Detroit Red Wings in Nashville's first game of a road back to back. The Predators entered tonight's game on a two game losing streak after dropping disappointing games to the Dallas Stars before the Christmas break and to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
Andrew Brunette made some adjustments to the lineup against the Red Wings. Juuse Saros got the start in net with Yaroslav Askarov backing him up. Kiefer Sherwood was a healthy scratch and Tyson Barrie was out with an upper body injury.
Detroit welcomed back Jeff Petry and Olli Maatta who missed recent games with injury as well as goaltender Alex Lyon. Lyon missed time with an upper body injury but returned to the ice tonight against the Predators.
The Predators got an early power play opportunity as Lucas Raymond headed to the penalty box for a hooking call, but it was Dylan Larkin who capitalized with a shorthanded goal at 4:02 to give Detroit the early lead.
The Predators were hemmed into the defensive zone as the teams returned to full strength before Nashville started generating offensive chances. Filip Forsberg was able to clear the puck out of the defensive zone to Gus Nyquist. Nyquist corralled the puck behind the Red Wings' net and found Forsberg for Nashville's first goal of the game at 10:43.
The Predators gained momentum from the Forsberg goal and generated their own offensive pressure on Lyon, but the momentum was interrupted by a penalty call on Phil Tomasino for a hook at 14:26. Patrick Kane looked to have a sure power play goal with a wide open net, but Juuse Saros came across the crease to make a highlight reel diving save. Nashville survived the two minutes, but Detroit took control of the game as the period wound down. The Red Wings' offensive pressure eventually resulted in a goal by Jake Walman with just :22 seconds remaining in the first. Detroit headed into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The fast game pace picked up right where it left off as the second period began. Nashville outshot the Red Wings through the first half of the middle period 7-3. Dante Fabbro headed to the penalty box for a slash at 11:11, and the Red Wings earned their second power play. It was Gus Nyquist who scored shorthanded at 11:11 to even up the game 2-2, and the Predators killed off the remainder of the penalty.
After the teams returned to five on five, Tommy Novak chased down the puck behind the net and quickly found Filip Forsberg in the slot. Forsberg buried the puck to give the Predators a 3-2 lead at 13:49.
Nashville kept the pressure on as the period continued. With less than a minute left in the period, a late tap at Saros stirred up a ruckus in front of the net. Dante Fabbro and J.T. Compher mixed it up while Roman Josi and Alex DeBrincat dropped the gloves. Fabbro earned a two minute penalty for roughing, Compher earned four minutes for roughing, and Josi and DeBrincat each were assessed five minutes for fighting. Nashville headed into the second intermission with some time remaining on the late power play and a 3-2 lead.
The Predators weren't able to convert on the rest of their power play time at the beginning of the third period. The teams returned to five a side, and the action went back and forth without a whistle for nearly seven minutes.
The Red Wings capitalized on a two on one chance as J.T. Compher passed to Alex DeBrincat who scored at 9:29. The tying goal ignited Detroit who continued their offensive pressure, and less than two minutes later an extended shift in the offensive zone resulted in Jake Walman's second goal of the game to give Detroit the 4-3 lead with less than nine minute to play.
The Predators dug in, and at 12:23 Gus Nyquist cleaned up a loose puck in front of Alex Lyon to tie the game back up. Both teams pushed to get the go ahead goal, but regulation ended with a 4-4 tie and the game went to overtime.
Ryan O'Reilly won the initial faceoff for the Predators, but Alex Lyon made the save on Filip Forsberg's early shot. Detroit took their turn with possession, and Lucas Raymond scored on a shot from the high shot to win the game 5-4.
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