In Nashville Tuesday night, the Predators and Calgary Flames, two teams contending for the wild card, went to extra time before Mark Giordano scored with 32 seconds gone in the session to give the Flames a 6-5 win.
The two teams are now separated by one point with the Preds holding the first wild card
Mark Giordano scored OT winner over Predators Tuesday – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
position.
Calgary had built a 4-1 lead in the second period before the Predators roared back with a four-goal outburst.
“That’s big-time character,” Giordano said. “We’re up 4-1, they score four goals, but they scored their last one to go ahead with 30 seconds left or whatever it was in the [second] period. To come out the way we did, we had some great shifts early. I thought we carried the play in the third, and then we have a big kill at the end. Can’t get much more positive than that in a period.”
Filip Forsberg had a hat trick for Nashville.
“[Forsberg] was good,” Predators head coach Peter Laviolette said. “Just talking to that line this morning, I thought it was important that they had a big game and they did. I thought they played well throughout, but I think the second period stands out as a period that got us a point tonight and got us into a hockey game. [Forsberg] was terrific.”
The Flames took an early lead in the first period on a goal from Micheal Ferland; he had two goals on the night.
“Put pucks on net, like that first one,” Ferland said. “I didn’t even see it go in. I thought it was going to miss the net. It went off of a glove or something and went in. It was good to get in the first shift.”
P.K. Subban and Colin Wilson also scored for the Predators.
Mikael Backlund scored twice and Dougie Hamilton added a goal for the Flames.
Brian Elliott got the win on 23 saves.
“I think it goes back to [Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr]. It doesn’t matter how many you let in as long as you let in one less than the other guy,” Elliot said of the game. “It was one of those games where pucks were going in. You just kind of have to battle down and try to shut that door as best as possible. We did a great job of responding in the third so I didn’t have to make too many saves.”
WATCH: All Flames vs. Predators highlights
Pekka Rinne got the start but was given the hook after Hamilton’s goal made the score 4-1 for the Flames.
Juuse Saros replaced Rinne.
“I’m pretty honest. If I thought the effort wasn’t right or things weren’t the way they were supposed to be, I’d admit it,” Laviolette said after the loss. “I’d tell them, I’d tell you the same thing, but I don’t think that was the case tonight. Calgary’s got a good hockey team and they’re fighting for the playoffs, but I thought our guys showed up and were ready to go to work in the first period and it just didn’t bounce our way.”
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