Flames rally to defeat Nashville in shootout, 3-2

The Nashville Predators built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi.

Problem was that was all the offense the Preds could generate as the Calgary Flames rallied in the third period to tie the game and force the match into extra time and then the skills competition.

Matthew Tkachuk scored early in the third to cut the deficit in half.

“Well after a couple tough games at home, this is exactly what you need right now,” Tkachuk said. “This is good vibes, this is everybody feeling confident, a great team win, great goaltending and a comeback. Whenever you get a comeback win, you feel pretty good about yourself. A win in general, you feel good about yourself.

“But tonight, for some reason, it was special. Just to be down two in the third against the Western Conference champs last year, I mean you don’t have to talk about how good they are. I mean, they are. They’re so good. And they played to that caliber, and we wore them down in the second half of the game.”

Micheal Ferland tied the game with just over seven minutes left in regulation.

“It was a huge character win,” Ferland said. “We came back after the first period being down 2-0. We thought we’d just stick with it and keep battling and battling. We just kept putting pucks on net, and we battled our way back.”

Mike Smith got the win on 28 saves.

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Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in taking the loss.

“He (Rinne) gave us an opportunity to win. I thought he was sharp. I thought we just took too many hits 5-on-5 in the defensive zone, too many opportunities coming at him. Eventually if you get enough, you’re going to score, but I thought he gave us an opportunity to win,” Predators head coach Peter Laviolette said of his goalie.