Novak, Predators recover for OT win against Ducks

ANAHEIM --Tommy Novak scored his second goal at 1:12 of overtime, and the Nashville Predators recovered for a 5-4 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Sunday.

Novak, who also had an assist, won it when he finished a short pass from Philip Tomasino on a 2-on-0.
Ducks goalie John Gibson had made a save on Matt Duchene on another 2-on-0 rush 15 seconds before the winning goal.
Tomasino had a goal and an assist, Roman Josi and Colton Sissons each had two assists, and Juuse Saros made 33 saves for the Predators (33-24-7), who finished a six-game road trip 4-1-1.
Nashville, which also won 2-1 in a shootout at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, is 7-2-1 in its past 10 games and moved within five points of the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"It's tough games, going back to back with the time change and being on a 13-day road trip," Novak said. "We worked hard and showed resilience and got a lot of points on the road trip, so that was pretty successful."

Mason McTavish scored two goals, Cam Fowler had three assists, and Gibson made 31 saves for the Ducks (22-35-10), who are 5-1-3 in their past nine games.
"Moving down these last 15-16 games we got left, we're just trying to create really good habits," Anaheim forward Max Jones said. "Move onto the next game with a positive attitude."
Troy Terry got the Ducks to within 4-3 at 17:39 of the third period with a one-timer from the right circle off a cross-ice from Colton White.
McTavish then tied it 4-4 with 26 seconds remaining when he chipped in a rebound with Gibson pulled for the extra attacker.

Tomasino gave Nashville a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:01 of the first period. His centering pass from the left circle redirected in off the stick of White.
"Kind of had a lot of guys at the net and I just threw it there," Tomasino said. "Nice little bounce there."
Tomasino has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past nine games.
"Trying to focus on the little details, defensively especially," Tomasino said. "I feel like I've generated some good chances. I kind of feel like that's my game, so hopefully I can continue to keep that going."
Novak made it 2-0 at 13:40 of the first, scoring with a wrist shot from the high slot after the Ducks failed to clear the zone up the boards.
McTavish cut it to 2-1 at 15:44 when he scored short side from the edge of the right circle. The play started after Jones stole the puck from Ryan McDonagh in the neutral zone, warded off Egor Afanasyev and pushed the puck with one hand to McTavish.
"I think we got a little sloppy in our D-zone with turnovers there," Tomasino said of the end of the first period. "It was a pretty good period from our group, especially after a long road trip."
Frank Vatrano tied it 2-2 at 4:46 of the second period, roofing a shot over Saros' right shoulder from the left circle off a pass from Fowler.
"Cam's got some good vision, so he found me streaking down the side there," Vatrano said. "I found a little spot, and it went in."
Kiefer Sherwood responded for the Predators to make it 3-2 at 1:47 of the third period. He carried the puck below the goal line and scored with a shot that ramped up Nathan Beaulieu's stick before banking in off the back of Gibson.

Jakob Silfverberg had a chance to tie it at 4:10, but he hit the post and had his follow-up attempt stopped by Saros, who then made a save on Terry on a 2-on-1 at 5:09.
Yakov Trenin then scored off a wraparound attempt from Cole Smith to make it 4-2 at 13:36.
NOTES:Nashville forward Luke Evangelista is day to day with an upper-body injury. He has four points (two goals, two assists) in his first six NHL games. ... The Predators scored on their only power play. Since Feb. 18, they are first in the NHL on the man-advantage at 35.5 percent (11-for-31). ... Novak has 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 33 games since being recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Dec. 19. ... McTavish has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past seven games. ... Fowler has 11 assists in his past 10 games.