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In a preseason rematch on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in overtime, avenging their loss to the same opponent on Sunday.
Nashville saved its best for the final period, scoring twice to force the extra session before securing the win in the second game of their exhibition schedule.
"I think it was a lot of our first exhibition games, and kind of had to raise our battle level and realize it was a real game, and it was a great team effort," Predators forward Matthew Wood said. "Everyone raised their compete level, and that's what the coaches were asking of us, and I think everyone really bought in."
Tampa Bay came out strong in each of the first two periods, with forward Jeffrey Viel finding the net within the first five minutes of both frames. Nashville responded with dangerous chances in each period but struggled to solve Lightning goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
The tide turned in the third period when the Predators' second line of Filip Forsberg, Matthew Wood, and Nils Hoglander began generating sustained pressure. Forsberg created multiple scoring opportunities without converting, but Wood finally broke through at 13:30 of the third, redirecting Ryan Ufko's point shot past Hildeby to halve the Lightning's lead.
"Yeah, it was a couple of great plays by Fil [Forsberg] and Nils [Hoglander], and I just couldn't bury one," Wood said. "I found myself in the hole, and Uffy [Ryan Ufko] made a great shot, and I was able to tip it in."
Wood wasn't finished. With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, he took a neutral-zone pass from Jack Achan, skated in alone on Hildeby, and picked the bottom right corner to tie the game and force overtime.
"Well, they were all over it all night for the most part," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "Especially the second two-thirds of the game. It was just going to be a matter of time. I think Fil hit, I don't know how many chances. He missed those chances. I don't know how many he had in tight. Woody was around there too on the breakaway. Those guys, if they get those chances, that's a very positive sign, usually they'll score. So it was just a matter of time before they went in."
Preseason rules called for a five-minute, four-on-four sudden-death overtime, and the home side carried its third-period momentum into the extra frame. Third-line center Felix Nilsson dug the puck out of the Lightning corner, creating a turnover deep in Tampa Bay's zone. He then weaved past three defenders and beat Hildeby on the near side to send the Bridgestone Arena crowd home happy.
"Not our best game, but we found a way to win," Nilsson said. "Obviously, some great efforts from Woody and I, maybe with a little bit of luck, but I'm happy to score the OT winner."
Key Analysis: Three Stars of the Game
Matthew Wood – Nashville's second-line center was a force all over the ice, registering six shots on goal and scoring both third-period goals to erase a 2-0 deficit. He logged the second-most ice time among Predators forwards and also contributed a hit and a blocked shot.
Felix Nilsson – Nilsson netted the game-winner halfway through overtime, stealing the puck deep in Tampa Bay's zone and maneuvering past three defenders before scoring. Despite playing the fourth-fewest minutes among Nashville forwards, he delivered the decisive play.
Justus Annunen – After a shaky start that saw him allow a goal in the first four minutes, Annunen settled in and kept the Predators within striking distance. He finished with 25 saves on 27 shots for a .926 save percentage.