Nashville 3, Montreal 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees:
Tom Kowal, Brad Watson
Linesmen:
Brian Murphy, Andy McElman
Attendance:
17113
By SportsDirect Inc.
Predators 3, Canadiens 2 (OT): Rookie Filip Forsberg scored a power-play goal 1:54 into overtime as host Nashville extended its point streak against Montreal to seven games (4-0-3).
Just 45 seconds after Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban was called for tripping, Mike Ribeiro made a cross-slot pass from low in the right faceoff circle to Forsberg, who one-timed it past Carey Price for his 22nd tally. Mattias Ekholm scored a highlight-reel goal and fellow blue-liner Ryan Ellis also tallied while Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Predators, who remained one point behind first-place St. Louis in the Central Division.
Brendan Gallagher and David Desharnais scored for the Canadiens, whose lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the Atlantic was reduced to one point. Price turned aside 28 shots as Montreal became the first team to reach the 100-point mark this season.
Ekholm opened the scoring at 9:10 of the first period, waiting for his teammates to get onside before entering the offensive zone. The 24-year-old Swede fell to his knees after splitting a pair of defenders but still managed to beat Price to the stick side for his sixth goal.
Gallagher knotted the contest 2 1/2 minutes into the second session, burying a loose puck in the low slot after a rebound got away from Nashville's Calle Jarnkrok in front, and Desharnais beat Rinne from alone on the doorstep after receiving a feed from the left corner by PA Parenteau with 7:18 left in the period. Ellis forged a tie 7:56 into the third, keeping the puck in the offensive zone at the left point and unleashing a shot that bounced off Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry and past Price.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Nashville C Colin Wilson's assist on Ellis' goal was the 100th of his career. ... Predators LW Kevin Fiala made his NHL debut, registering three shots and blocking one while posting a minus-1 rating in 11:25 of ice time. ... Ribeiro recorded two assists, putting him three away from 500 for his career. ... Nashville set a franchise record with its 26th sellout of the season.
Top Game Performances
Montreal |
|
Nashville |
David Desharnais 1 |
Points |
Mike Ribeiro 2 |
David Desharnais 1 |
Goals |
Mattias Ekholm 1 |
Max Pacioretty 1 |
Assists |
Mike Ribeiro 2 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Filip Forsberg 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Carey Price .903 |
Save Percentage |
Pekka Rinne .931 |
Carey Price 28 |
Saves |
Pekka Rinne 27 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Montreal
|
29 |
2 |
0-1 |
3-4 |
8 |
25 |
Nashville
|
31 |
3 |
1-4 |
1-1 |
2 |
38 |
Upcoming Games
-
Nashville will play their next game on the road against Tampa Bay. The Predators have a W/L % of .545 after a win and .700 after a loss.
-
Montreal will play their next game on the road against Winnipeg. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .652 after a win and .571 after a loss.