Tommy Novak recorded a goal and assist in regulation and scored the overtime winner while Phil Tomasino added a power play goal and the game winning assist to defeat John Gibson and the Anaheim Ducks.

The Nashville Predators wrapped up their six game road trip out west with tonight's stop at Honda Center to play the 22-35-9 Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks entered tonight's match up off of a 3-1 win Friday over the Calgary Flames, a game in which goaltender John Gibson made his mark in the record books earning the most saves by a goaltender in the franchise's history. Gibson got the start tonight for the Ducks.

The Ducks' leading goal scorer is 21 year old Trevor Zegras. Zegras has 21 goals and 55 points and has made quite a name for himself with his flashy style of play. Troy Terry has two goals in his last five games and is second in points on the season while Cam Fowler has been dishing out assists for the team. 

The Predators have their own fresh crop of young players since the franchise decided to reset the roster at the trade deadline. Cody Glass and Tommy Novak are leading the way with strong performances on ice. Egor Afanasyev made his NHL debut last night in Los Angeles and was in the lineup again tonight. The Predators were without Luke Evangelista who is listed as day to day with an upper body injury. Juuse Saros got the start in net. 

Game Recap

The Ducks' power play got an early opportunity as Michael McCarron headed to the penalty box at 4:11. The Preds' penalty kill kept the threat away from Saros for most of the two minutes. Nashville got their first chance on the power play shortly after five on five play resumed as Anaheim had too many men on the ice. Phil Tomasino scored on the man advantage at 9:01 to give Nashville the lead. 

Tommy Novak continued the scoring and his hot streak scoring from the above the circles at 13:40 to add to Nashville's lead. A turnover in the neutral zone led to a goal by Mason McTavish at 15:44 to cut the Predators' lead in half. The teams headed to their respective locker rooms as time expired with a score of 2-1 after twenty minutes. 

Saros had to be sharp in the early minutes of the second period. The flurry of offensive pressure eventually resulted in a goal by Frank Vatrano at 4:46 to tie the game. Midway through the period Colton Sissons left the ice after taking a stick to the face on a legal follow through. 

Nashville finally began pressuring Gibson in the second half of the period. After a hard hit on Max Jones, Jeremy Lauzon and Jones dropped the gloves and headed to the sin bin to cool off for five minutes. The period ended with a tie score of 2-2. 

Colton Sissons returned to the ice to start the third period. The Predators retook the lead early as Kiefer Sherwood shot banked off the stick of a Ducks player and off the back of Gibson's helmet from behind the net at 1:47. Juuse Saros made a big save on a two on one rebound chance to protect Nashville's lead and then a few minutes later during a net front scrum. 

Hard work along the boards by Colton Sissons and Cole Smith resulted in a goal by Yakov Trenin at 12:36 to give the Predators a two goal lead. With less than three minutes remaining, Gibson left the net and with the extra attacker on the ice, Troy Terry closed the gap to one goal with a score at 17:39. The Ducks kept an extra attacker on and continue to pepper Saros in the final minute.  With :26 left, Mason McTavish tied the game with a net front goal. 

An intense, but quick overtime ended with a huge OT goal by Tommy Novak to earn the Predators the win. 

Game Notes

 1. Tommy Novak is playing some of Nashville's best hockey. Novak scored his eleventh goal in 32 games with the Preds and scored the over time winner. Novak is becoming one of the top playmakers and goal scorers for this team. 

2. They're dropping like flies. The team has done well with key players like Filip Forsberg and Alexandre Carrier out with injury as well as Juuso Pärssinen and Luke Evangelista, but Nashville will need to get healthy if they hope to finish the season strong. Getting Colton Sissons back in the third period was huge for an already depleted team tonight. 

3. Nashville had to dig deep for that win. The last game of a six game road trip, the second game of a back to back, and losing a two goal lead late didn't bode well for the Predators, but this team showed character by pulling out this win tonight.