Nashville Predators win epic battle over the Calgary Flames 4-3

Nashville, TN – The Nashville Predators fought back from the brink of death tonight to defeat the Calgary Flames in an absolute “barn burner,” 4-3.

Mikael Granlund was the hero tonight with two point, including the game tying and game winning goals, to defeat their conference rivals.  Both teams are battling for points to stay in the playoff race, and tonight was Nashville’s night.

Colton Sissons started the scoring for the Predators at 19:28 of the opening frame, taking a feed from Colin Blackwell and firing the “one timer” to beat David Rittich of the Flames for the 1-0 lead.

Then at 3:48 of the second period, it was Backlund again who fired a shot from inside the blue line that deflected off of a Nashville Predators and into the net, and Calgary had a “sloppy” goal for the 2-1 lead.

The game continued to be a back and forth battle between the teams, racing up and down the ice with the goalies providing the motivation for their teammates.  Both Saros and Rittich had phenomenal games in net.

Finally though, at 14:30 of the final period, Roman Josi tied the game for Nashville with a wrist shot on net for the equalizer, 2-2.

As the game was looking like it was headed for over-time, and Nashville at least getting a point, Calgary’s Andrew Mangiapane fired a slap-shot into the back of the net with just 49 seconds remaining in the game and the Flames took a 3-2 lead.

Nashville head coach John Hynes called his time-out to regroup his team for the final push.

Nashville then took the face-off to control the puck and with Saros pulled from the net, the Predators took the man advantage and attacked the Calgary net.

With bodies flying all over the ice, and just .01 second remaining in the game, Mikael Granlund tapped the puck into the net and the Predators had tied the game, 3-3.

Chaos ensued and the Smashville faithful erupted into a playoff roar that could be heard all the way to Canada.

As the overtime 3 on 3 began, the Predators went back and forth with the Flames when at just 1:20 of the extra frame, it was Granlund AGAIN who marched to the net and flipped the puck over the shoulder of Rittich for the game winner.

Nashville got the 4-3 win and the two points on the night.  It was one of the best games of the season, not only for the team, but the Smashville faithful.

The Predators remain in the wild-card spot of the Western Conference in hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Nashville will host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.  Puck drops at 7:00pm.