Nashville, TN – The Nashville Predators pulled out the win in overtime tonight against the visiting Edmonton Oilers, 3-2. The game went to a shoot-out where new acquired Brian Boyle scored the game winner to earn the Predators the valuable extra point.
In front of country superstar Garth Brooks and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and a fired up Smashville crowd, the Predators did what they had to do and that was fight to the end.
On a day that saw Nashville trade away Kevin Fiala and Ryan Hartman, for the services of Wayne Simmons and Mikael Granlund, the Predators are now set for a Stanley Cup playoff run.
Edmonton got on the board first as Leon Draisaitl scored a shorthanded goal on the Predators to take the early 1-0 lead. Getting behind early in the game has been a recurring theme for Nashville of late.
The second period was all Predators. Colton Sissons dropped a spicy rebound off a Rocco Grimaldi shot into the cage for the game tying score, but just moments later, P.K Subban lit the lamp by blasting a bullet from the point that beat Mikko Koskinen in net and the Predators had the lead, 2-1.
Nashville has been playing better hockey of late, but haven’t been getting the breaks that usually come with good hockey. Head coach Peter Laviolette has been pleased with his team’s play, just not the results.
As the game went to the shootout, it was Filip Forsberg along with Boyle that scored for the Predators. Forsberg had been rather quiet on the night, but at crunch time, you can always depend on Flip to step up and that was the case tonight.
Nashville will board a plane and fly to St. Louis for a game tomorrow night in the city of the Arch. Puck drops at 7:00pm.
