The Nashville Predators got goals from Gus Nyquist and Michael McCarron, but it was another stellar performance by Juuse Saros in net and a quick overtime goal by Filip Forsberg that secured the Predators two points and the win.
Tonight the Nashville Predators welcomed the 15-10-2 Philadelphia Flyers to Bridgestone Arena. John Tortorella's Flyers are surprising many in the league and the team entered the game looking for their fifth win in a row.
Head coach Andrew Brunette made a few adjustments to the lineup for tonight's game against the Flyers.
Travis Konecny and the Flyers' top six have been driving much of the success for a Philadelphia team exceeding low expectations. The Flyer's have also gotten good goaltending from Carter Hart, but tonight Samuel Ersson got the start in net.
The game kicked off with a first period of penalties. Less than a minute into the game, Tyson Foerster sat for a slash, but the Predators power play couldn't capitalize. Philadelphia's power play got their first chance of the game as Luke Schenn sat at 3:02 for a roughing penalty, but the Flyers couldn't convert on the man advantage either.
The first goal of the game came at five on five play as Gustav Nyquist tipped Alexandre Carrier's shot past Ersson at 9:42. The Predators gave the Flyers several chances to tie the game up on the power play as Dante Fabbro and Luke Evangelista each took turns sitting in the box. Nashville's penalty kill and Juuse Saros kept the Flyers from converting on the opportunities. The first period ended with Philly leading 14-7 in shots on goal but Nashville ahead 1-0.
The Flyers came out with pressure early in the second period, but it was Michael McCarron who gave the Predators their second goal of the game on a delayed penalty. The Predators added the extra attacker, and McCarron cleaned up the puck from the slot to put Nashville up 2-1 at 3:05.
After Nashville's second goal, Philly upped their pressure. A penalty called on Garnet Hathaway at 10:30 interrupted the five on five momentum briefly for the Flyers, but they were able to generate shorthanded chances and kill off the penalty.
Nicolas Deslauriers took exception to a hit Jeremy Lauzon laid on Owen Tippett and went after Lauzon at 17:26. Lauzon and Deslauriers each earned five minutes for fighting, and Deslauriers got an extra two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Predators again struggled on the man advantage, and as the penalty expired Sean Couturier scored off the rush with less than a minute to go in the period. The teams headed into the second intermission with the Predators hanging on to a 2-1 lead.
The third period started with Nashville committing a too many men penalty less than a minute in, but the Preds were able to kill off the penalty. Nashville started to generate some offensive chances, but it was Travis Sanheim who cleaned up a rebound off the rush to even the score up at 6:49.
Nashville generated extended zone time mid way through the period but couldn't find the back of the net against tired Flyers defenders. The Predators carried the momentum through the final ten minutes of regulation but couldn't break the tie.
Ryan O'Reilly battled to win the faceoff for the Predators, and Roman Josi carried the puck into the offensive zone. Forsberg took the puck from Josi on a quick handoff and took a shot from the top of the circle. Ersson thought he made the save, but Forsberg followed his shot in and found the puck leaking out behind the goaltender. Forsberg finished his shot to win the game in overtime for the Predators.
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