Nashville, TN – The Nashville Predators are getting used to winning thrilling overtime games, but tonight in Nashville, the Predators pulled off one of the most spectacular wins in team history. Filip Forsberg scored the game winner in overtime, on a penalty shot, to cap the comeback victory, 4-3.
The Predators entered the third period trailing the Blues 3-0, looking leg weary from their recent four game road trip, when suddenly the Blues were overwhelmed by the Predators comeback.
St. Louis looked to be cruising to victory after taking the 3-0 lead, with Jay Bouwmeester getting the scoring started for the Blues. Netting the first goal of the game, Bouwmeester took a pass from Patrik Berglund at 15:18 of the first period and St. Louis was off to the races.
Alexander Steen then gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead at 3:10 of the second period, scoring on a rebound from a Paul Stastny shot that beat Predators goalie Pekka Rinne.
It looked like it was all St. Louis when Jaden Schwartz made it 3-0 at the nine minute mark of the second period, slipping another rebound into the net past Rinne.
The third period began with a different feel to it when the Predators stepped up their offensive presence, keeping the puck in the Blues defensive zone, putting pressure on former Predators backup goalie, Carter Hutton.
Calle Jarnkrok put Nashville on the board at 9:06 of the third period to make it 3-1.
Austin Watson then scored his first of two goals on the night at 14:33 as the Predators were short-handed, taking a rebound from a Ryan Ellis shot to make it 3-2.
Watson would score again at 15:48 to tie the game at 3-3. The Craig Smith rebound was tapped into the net, but was first waved off by the officials. The replay clearly showed it was a good goal, and suddenly the game was tied.
Into the overtime, Filip Forsberg was granted a penalty shot after being taken down on a breakaway and netted the game winner past Hutton for the 4-3 final.
The Predators extend their lead over the Blues in the Central Division to five points. Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne had 28 saves on the night, while his former backup, Carter Hutton made 29.
The Predators are home again on Thursday night to play host to the Calgary Flames at 7:00pm.
