By Ron Wynn
Filip Forsberg’s uncanny scoring streak continued Tuesday night as his efforts powered a Predators’ comeback and 5-4 victory in Buffalo. Over the past six games he’s scored 10 goals and added four assists. He’s also scored in five straight games. Forsberg scored the game winner at the 2:45 mark of overtime. Nashville overcame a 4-2 third period deficit to get their fourth straight win.
“He’s the best player in the league right now, the way he’s playing,” Predators defenseman P.K. Subban told the Associated Press. “Whatever he’s doing, I don’t know what it is. Just continue doing it.” “He’s been outstanding,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette added. “There’s nobody else that you’d want the puck on their stick in the closing minutes of the third period to get it to overtime. And then in overtime, that’s the guy who has to have it on his stick.”
The Forsberg winner came as the Predators had a two-on-one break. His shot from the right circle beat Robin Lehner. The Predators were also able to kill off a penalty that had begun in the final seconds of regulation, and continued for the first 1:57 of overtime. Forsberg also had tied the game with just 2:23 left in the third period. He made a sharp move around defenseman Rasmus Ristolaninen and scored from the right slot. If all that weren’t enough, he also assisted on Ryan Johansen’s goal that made it 4-3. Colin Wilson and Mike Fisher were the Predators’ other goal scorers.
Kyle Okposo, Brian Gionta and Jake McCabe each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres. Evander Kane also scored, and Lehner made 36 saves. Nashville has won four in a row, while Buffalo has lost four in a row. The Sabres blew leads of 2-0 and 4-2 in this one, turning what looked like a surprise Predators’ road loss into an inspirational, vital victory instead. Gionta, Buffalo’s captain, called the Sabres “fragile.”
“It’s being a young team trying to find our way,” Gionta added. “When we’ve got those leads, we can’t sit back.”
The Predators remain the third place team in the Western Conference’s Central Division.