RALEIGH, N.C. – In a riveting encounter at the PNC Arena on Friday, Filip Forsberg’s overtime magic propelled the Nashville Predators to a sensational 6-5 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Forsberg, who has been in scintillating form, struck just 35 seconds into the extra period, capping off a remarkable comeback for the Predators.
The game’s climactic moment saw Forsberg execute a brilliant maneuver, cutting across the left circle before unleashing a powerful wrist shot that beat Hurricanes’ goalie Antti Raanta on the glove side. This marked Forsberg’s second consecutive game-winning goal in overtime, following his decisive strike against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Reflecting on his game-winner, Forsberg credited teammate Roman Josi for creating the necessary space for his decisive shot. “It was a good middle-lane drive by (Roman) Josi,” Forsberg stated, underscoring the teamwork that led to the winning moment.
Josi and Ryan O’Reilly were instrumental throughout the night, each contributing a goal and two assists. Their efforts were backed by Kevin Lankinen’s solid performance in goal, making 26 saves. The win marked Nashville’s third in a row, taking their record to an impressive 17-13-0.
Despite the win, Predators coach Andrew Brunette acknowledged the challenge posed by a well-drilled Hurricanes team. “They’re such a well-coached team and well-oiled machine,” Brunette said, praising the opposition’s resilience.
The Hurricanes, who had secured victories in their last two games, saw significant contributions from Stefan Noesen and Martin Necas, with both players registering a goal and an assist. However, Raanta’s 24 saves weren’t enough to secure the win for Carolina, now standing at 16-12-2.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and momentum shifts, starting with Juuso Parssinen’s opening goal for Nashville. Carolina responded with power-play goals from Noesen and Tony DeAngelo, but Josi’s wraparound goal leveled the score in the second period.
Carolina seemed to seize control with quickfire goals from Michael Bunting and Sebastian Aho, but Nashville refused to back down. O’Reilly’s power-play goal narrowed the gap before Necas responded for the Hurricanes. The relentless Predators struck back with goals from Tyson Barrie and Jeremy Lauzon, setting the stage for Forsberg’s dramatic finish.
Forsberg praised his team’s resilience, particularly in the third period. “It was a back-and-forth game,” he said, highlighting the entertaining nature of the contest.
In a game filled with notable achievements, Josi extended his point streak to three games. Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour, despite the loss, reached a milestone, coaching his 400th game for the Hurricanes, placing him second in NHL history for the most wins through the first 400 games.
The Predators’ victory, marked by their never-say-die attitude and Forsberg’s flair for the dramatic, will be remembered as one of the season’s most exciting games. It’s a testament to their determination and skill, qualities that will be crucial as they continue their campaign.
