Predators win Game 4 in third overtime

NASHVILLE -- Mike Fisher scored 11:12 into the third overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of their Western Conference Second Round series at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.
Fisher collected a rebound in front of the Sharks net and slid the puck around goaltender Martin Jones for his second goal of the game and fourth of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

At 111:12, it is the longest game in Predators history. It is also the longest of the 2016 postseason, passing the 96:00 the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers played in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First Round series.
"Just trying to find energy and just play together," Fisher said. "Play simple, try and help each other out. They're doing kind of the same, and obviously play slowed down. You knew it was going to be one of those plays where you just get pucks to the net, rebounds, whatever."
The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2. Game 5 is in San Jose on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

"I'm so happy for the guys for pulling it out and getting the win," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "They invested a lot. There's a lot of character in our room. To win a game like that is big if you think about the other scenario. You're 3-1 the other way; one win, three losses. This ties it up 2-2; it shortens the series. Our guys played like champs tonight."
Predators forward James Neal tied it 3-3 with 4:21 left in the third period on a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle. After defenseman Ryan Ellis' shot hit a player in front of the Sharks net, Neal snapped the puck past Jones for his fourth goal of the playoffs.
"It was a huge game, obviously, to tie the series up," Nashville forward Filip Forsberg said. "Coming out for every period, the fans just got more and more crazy out there. It was pretty awesome actually. I guess that's what kind of drives us."
San Jose appeared to win it at 7:34 of the first overtime when forward Joe Pavelski put the puck in the Nashville net. The goal was waved off on the ice, and video review confirmed the referee's call that Pavelski made incidental contact with Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, preventing Rinne from doing his job in the crease.

"The explanation I got was they ruled that he did get his stick on it before it crossed the goal line so it was a good goal from that point of view, but that he made incidental contact with the goalie," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. "That's why they waved it off. "
Rinne made 44 saves; Jones had 41.
Brent Burns gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead at 6:48 of the third period when he scored with a one-timer from the point on the power play. He took a pass from forward Logan Couture and shot through traffic to beat Rinne for his second goal of the night and fourth of the playoffs.
Predators forward Colin Wilson opened the scoring 41 seconds into the game when he beat Jones on a rebound in the Sharks crease. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm's shot from the point was deflected, and Wilson slid the puck past Jones for his fourth goal of the playoffs.

It was Wilson's 10th career NHL postseason goal, moving him into second place in Predators history behind Shea Weber's 13.
Burns tied it 1-1 at 3:08 of the first period on a wrist shot from the boards. He took a pass from Couture, entered the zone and beat Rinne with a sharp-angled shot.
Fisher gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 9:50 of the first when he scored off a rebound from the slot. Neal took the initial shot, and Fisher got to the puck and shot it past Jones.
Sharks forward Joonas Donskoi tied it 2-2 at 14:09 of the second period on a one-timer from the point. Predators forward Filip Forsberg failed to clear the puck on the penalty kill, and Donskoi beat Rinne for his third goal of the playoffs.

The Predators had two power-play opportunities past regulation; Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was called for delay of game for playing the puck over the glass at 9:02 of the first overtime, and San Jose center Joe Thornton was whistled for high-sticking Miikka Salomaki 2:56 into the second OT. Nashville was 0-for-5 with the man-advantage Thursday and is 4-for-41 in the playoffs.
The Sharks got two power plays past regulation, each on a Weber penalty. The Nashville captain was called for high-sticking defenseman Paul Martin with 2:04 left in the second overtime and for interference against Chris Tierney at 7:59 of the third OT. San Jose was 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.
San Jose outshot Nashville 9-3 in the second overtime, forcing Rinne to make several saves from point-blank range.