Predators - 3, Penguins - 2 (OT): McCarron Scores Twice, Forsberg Secures Predators Win with Quick Overtime Goal
Bryan Rust scored for Pittsburgh in his return from injury, but Filip Forsberg netted a quick overtime goal to give Nashville two points and continue the Predators' win streak.
Predators - 3, Penguins - 2 (OT): McCarron Scores Twice, Forsberg Secures Predators Win with Quick Overtime GoalOn Tuesday night the Nashville Predators welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to Bridgestone Arena for their first meeting of the season. Both teams entered tonight's game with identical 10-10 records.
The Predators opted once again to start eleven forwards and seven defensemen. Juuse Saros started in net.
The Penguins welcomed back Bryan Rust to the lineup after missing the previous three games due to a lower body injury. Rust slotted back in on the top line with Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby. Tristan Jarry got the start in net for the Penguins.
The Predators recorded the first shot on goal of the game, and the Penguins answered back with a quick succession of chances four-and-a-half minutes in, but both goaltenders handled the shots. with no trouble The Penguins generated opportunities when the Predators didn't cleanly exit the defensive zone, but the defenders quickly recovered and Saros made the saves.
At 10:20 Michael McCarron got the Predators on the board first tipping in a shot from Tyson Barrie. Gus Nyquist had the secondary assist on the goal which extended his point streak to nine games.
The Penguins answered back with offensive pressure of their own, but again, Saros fended off the shot attempts. At 14:14 Jeff Carter tripped Tomasino as Tomasino entered the offensive zone, and the Predators got the first power play chance of the game. Nashville's power play recorded just one shot on goal before the two minutes expired and the teams returned to five a side.
With less than two minutes remaining, the Predators forechecking resulted in a net front chances. Michael McCarron once again scored cleaning up a loose puck in the slot at 18:48 to give Nashville the 2-0 lead after the first period of play.
Jeremy Lauzon was called for a hook on Evgeni Malkin at 1:58 of the second period, and the Penguins got their first chance on the man advantage. Pittsburgh's power play got three shots on goal but couldn't capitalize on the power play. Malkin got the Penguins on the board just four minutes later as Reilly Smith drove to the slot with the puck and passed it back to Malkin who scored from the circleat 5:49.
McCarron dropped the gloves with John Ludvig at 6:44 and after a brief dust up, both players headed to their respective boxes to serve five minutes for fighting each.
A hooking call on Jansen Harkins at 9:26 gave Nashville their second power play chance. Nashville recorded just one shot on goal on the man advantage, and the teams returned to full strength. The Penguins beat the Predators to more pucks as the period continued. With just :38 remaining in the second, Marcus Pettersson was called for holding on Colton Sissons as they battled at the boards, and Nashville ended the second period on the power play. The teams headed into the second intermission with Pittsburgh leading in shots on goals 25-18 but Nashville having the edge on the scoreboard 2-1.
The Predators began the final period with 1:22 remaining in the Pettersson power play but couldn't convert. Bryan Rust battle in front of Juuse Saros as the team's returned to full strength and deflected home a shot by John Ludvig to even the game up at 2:26.
Cole Smith headed to the penalty box at 5:28 for a hook on Jake Guentzel giving Pittsburgh a power play opportunity. Saros made a big back door save, and the Predators killed off the penalty. Neither team could gain successful offensive traction through the remainder of the third period. Nashville's best chance happened when Pärssinen, Sherwood, and Evangelista had a three on two chance, but the line couldn't get a shot on goal. Regulation ended with the teams tied 2-2.
After the Predators won the opening faceoff, Josi skated the puck behind Saros and passed it to Forsberg. Forsberg skated from the circles up the ice and scored on Jarry with a shot from the slot just fourteen seconds into overtime to give Nashville their sixth win in a row.