For the seventh time this season the Nashville Predators lost in overtime. Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins prevailed 5-4 after overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the second period.
The Penguins were led by Sidney Crosby & Bryan Rust who each dropped four points. Rust had the overtime winner just 1:07 into the extra frame.
“I wish I knew. I think if you look at all of those games we’ve had a chance to put a game away & then they come down,” head coach Andrew Brunette said when asked what’s gone wrong in overtime this season.
“I thought tonight we made it a little too easy for them with an elongated shift & then I thought we turned the puck over three times in that & I know we’re tired. You wish you could get that back & that’s what it’s looked like every [overtime].”
It didn’t take long for the first goal to fall as the Predators opened the scoring. Filip Forsberg & Jonathan Marchessault continued to display their chemistry on the ice.
Forsberg floated Marchessault a pass on a rush chance to beat Tristan Jarry on the second shot of the game. Defenseman Luke Schenn picked up the secondary assist which was his 200th career point.
“Yeah, we feel a little more connected certainly. I think we’re starting to get comfortable, whether it’s settling into some lines or some of us new guys getting comfortable with what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to play,” Stamkos said. “It’s nice to see some pucks go in the net finally but, again, it’s a process that’s better, now let’s clean up some other areas of the game.”
Nashville controlled the pace of play in the first period and continued to win battles in the corners while establishing offensive zone time.
However, Crosby didn’t let his squad exit the opening frame without getting on the board. He was patient in front of goalie Juuse Saros & after the puck was initially stopped on a shot, forward Bryan Rust buried the loose puck to even the score at one apiece.
Seven seconds after the Penguins tied the game forward Anthony Beauvillier was called for interference on Tommy Novak.
The egregious stick to the back led to Novak firing a shot on net during the man advantage and Luke Evangelista burying his fourth goal of the season. Nashville took a 2-1 lead to the locker room after the first stanza.
Nashville’s offense continued to prey on the Penguins going to the sin bin as forward Blake Lizotte was called for kneeing 1:31 into the second period.
Forsberg continued to roll dishing passes to his linemates and found Steven Stamkos in the left circle for a wicked wrister to extend Nashville’s lead to 3-1.
“When you’ve scored a goal you know. I was right there so I told the referee they missed that one too,” Stamkos said.
That’s a goal! Stammer knew it all the way!@PredsNHL | #smashville pic.twitter.com/GN1VyMwTVK
— Predators On FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Predators) December 20, 2024
Once more the Penguins didn’t waver away from keeping it a close contest. Defenseman Brady Skjei was called for tripping and with four seconds remaining on the kill, Crosby ended his 10-game drought to make it 3-2.
Then 1:14 later Rickard Rakell batted home an airborne puck past Saros to erase a two-goal deficit making it 3-3. Crosby found Rakell in the left circle & the puck deflected off of Jeremy Lauzon’s stick & made it behind Saros.
After a spirited first half of the third period, the Predators found their mojo again on a beautiful heads-up play from forward Zachary L’Heuruex. The rookie saw Ryan O’Reilly up the ice for an outlet pass.
“I think he’s really good along the wall. He made a great wall play and rolled the pass and he had really good poise with the puck and didn’t panic,” Brunette said of L’Heuruex’s play. “It was one of those goals where when we’re right and tight together that usually puts you over the hump.”
O’Reilly had Skjei breaking in on the play to his right and fed him a pass for his third goal of the season. With Skjei’s goal, O’Reilly picked up his 500th career assist. He’s only the third skater from his 2009 draft class to reach the milestone.
Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson evened things up with 8:24 to play in regulation and Crosby picked up his fourth point of the night on the play.
Nashville & Pittsburgh forced overtime after the Predators survived a late penalty called on Steven Stamkos.
Rust scored his eighth career overtime game-winner as he waited for a pass from Evgeni Malkin from the left circle.
Up Next
The Predators will play in game three of four of their homestand on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. It’s the first installment of the Music City Hockey Bobblehead this season as well. The first 10,000 fans will get a Tim McGraw bobblehead upon entry.
Newly acquired defenseman Justin Barron made it to the rink on Thursday evening to meet his new teammates. He’ll presumably make his debut against the Kings
It’s a matinee contest down at Bridgestone Arena this weekend with a 12:30 p.m. puck drop. Pete Weber & Jay More will be on the call right here on 102.5 The Game.
Follow Nick Kieser on Twitter/X: @KieserNick
Photos courtesy of the Nashville Predators
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