In Sunrise, the Florida Panthers blew a two-goal third period lead to the Nashville Predators on Thursday and lost in extra time, 6-5.
Filip Forsberg completed the rally when he potted the game-winner in over time. It was his second goal of the game.
“It was obviously a great comeback,” Forsberg said. “We’re working really hard. Obviously had to battle back in the third and we did that.”
Two late scores from Roman Josi and Matt Duchene (his second of the match) forced the game into an extra session.
“We had a discussion in between the second and third and they went out there, there was no quit,” Predators head coach John Hynes said. “We were going to drive that third period the way that we wanted to play and it’s nice to see you guys do it and get rewarded for because I think there’s been some games where you certainly deserve better than we’ve gotten. That’s nice.”
Josi scored with the Preds’ net empty and Duchene scored off the power play to tie it.
“I’ve been playing well and getting a ton of chances and haven’t been able to get them to go and this was probably the first time I really just didn’t ever panic,” Duchene said. “I got mad a couple times, but I never started changing my game. Hockey has a funny way of rewarding you and you focus on the team first and that was my mentality.”
Pekka Rinne made 12 saves for the win in relief.
“He (Rinne) never ceases to amaze you,” Hynes said. “He made some big saves. We were kind of pushing and pressing and chasing the game and they had some quality chances. For him to come in and play the way he played, he held the fort for us. And it allowed us to be able to get up and get going and get moving. So I think that’s the big reason why we found the way to win.”
Juuse Saros got the start for Nashville was given the hook after the second intermission ended. He yielded five goals, and made 19 saves.
Jonathan Huberdeau picked up his first NHL hat trick in the loss.
“I’m happy to get it out of the way, first one (hat trick), but it would have been just nice to get a win tonight,” Huberdeau said. “I think we should have won that one, a tough one to lose. We’re back at it tomorrow, but a tough one tonight.”
Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov had single markers for the Panthers who dropped to 5-0-2.
Calle Jarnkrok also scored for the Predators who improved to 5-5-0.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves in the loss.
“It’s a tough one,” Huberdeau said. “At least we got a point, but we have to come back and forget about it. Tomorrow is a new day.”
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