Tomasino recorded his first career multi-goal game and Cole Smith added a shorthanded score as the Predators battled with only ten forwards in the last half of the game to come away with a 4-2 win over a hot Philadelphia Flyers team.
Tonight the Nashville Predators took the ice at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to take on the 18-10-3 Flyers. The two teams met just over a week ago, and the Predators came away with a quick overtime win compliments of a Filip Forsberg OT goal.
Predators head coach Andrew Brunette made a few adjustments to the lineup against the Flyers, starting eleven forwards and seven defensemen tonight.
The first period kicked off with what may be one of the weirdest goals of the season. Morgan Frost was credited with the score as the puck bounced off him behind the net and fell behind Saros and in at 1:31.
After the Flyers took the early lead, Filip Forsberg headed to the penalty box for a trip on Sean Couturier at 3:35. The Predators were able to kill off the penalty, and Filip Forsberg had a breakaway chance as soon as he exited the box but couldn't get a shot off. The teams each had brief stints of offensive zone time but neither could find the back of the net through the middle of the period.
At 16:55, Travis Sanheim headed to the box for a hold on Filip Forsberg. The Predators spent the first minute of the power play trying to get set up in the offensive zone. Once they did, Nashville was unable to get a shot on goal, and the teams returned to five a side. The opening period ended with Philly leading 1-0.
The second period kicked off with a penalty call on Ryan McDonagh for a hook at :26, but it was Cole Smith who found the back of the net with a short handed goal off a three on two chance. Smith's forehand shot tied the game up at 1:05.
Nashville killed off the remainder of the penalty and gained momentum from the shorthanded goal, but the energy was interrupted by a holding call on Ryan McDonagh who headed back to the box. This time Sean Couturier capitalized on the man advantage scoring five hole on Saros at 4:45 to give the Flyers a one goal lead again.
The Predators got a quick turnover in the neutral zone after the Couturier goal, and Novak and Tomasino found themselves with a two on one chance. Novak passed the puck to Tomasino who backhanded it past Samuel Ersson to even the game back up at 5:24.
Sean Walker was whistled for interference at 8:38, and Nashville went back on the power play. Ryan O'Reilly got the puck in the net, but it was tipped with a high stick and the goal was waved off. With :30 remaining in the Walker penalty, Couturier joined his teammate in the box for a trip. The Predators weren't able to capitalize on the brief five on three chance or the rest of Couturier's penalty.
At 12:37 Yakov Trenin was assessed a boarding penalty and a game misconduct for a hit on Morgan Frost. Frost briefly left the game with the medical team while the officials spent quite a few minutes reviewing the hit which was originally an "illegal check to the head" call. The Predators' penalty kill was able to handle the bulk of the five minutes effectively before Cam Atkinson slashed Cole Smith and the teams finished out the major penalty playing four on four.
The teams returned to five a side until Marc Staal headed to the box with just :16 left in the period for an interference penalty. The middle period ended with Nashville having 1:44 seconds left to go on the power play and the teams tied up 2-2.
The third period opened with the Predators on the power play, but despite two net front flurries Nashville couldn't convert on the man advantage. Cole Smith threatened at five on five shortly after the penalty ended, but Ersson made the necessary two quick stops for the Flyers. A few minutes later, Cam Atkinson got a breakaway chance but Saros made the save.
Play went back and forth between the Flyers and Preds. With just over four minutes left, Tomasino created a turnover in the neutral zone. Colton Sissons carried the puck into the offensive zone and found Tomasino in the circle. Tomasino scored on Ersson at 15:59 to give the Predators the 3-2 lead.
Philadelphia pushed back, and with just over two minute remaining in the game Errson abandoned the net to bring on an extra attacker. The Predators were able to make a few crucial clears, and Saros held off the pressure the Flyers brought in the final moments. A late clear resulted in Gus Nyquist scoring an empty net goal at 19:59 to give the Predators a 4-2 win in Philadelphia.
Pre-Game Scouting: Lineup Changes, Novak's Milestone, and Dads In Tow
Brunette On McCarron Game Misconduct: "You Have to Keep Your Emotions in Check"
Canucks Defeat Predators with Quick Goals, Saros Pulled in Third Period in 5-2 Loss