Predators score twice late, defeat Panthers in OT on Forsberg's goal

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Nashville Predators scored twice in the final 2:06 of the third period before Filip Forsberg scored in overtime for a 6-5 win against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center on Thursday.

"It was obviously a great comeback," Forsberg said. "We're working really hard. Obviously had to battle back in the third and we did that."
Jonathan Huberdeau scored his first NHL hat trick and two assists for the Panthers (5-0-2), who extended their season-opening point streak to seven games. It is their second-longest to start a season, after their 12-game streak (8-0-4 ties) in 1996-97.

Duchene scored two goals, and Forsberg had two goals and three assists for the Predators (5-5-0), who won for the first time in six road games. Calle Jarnkrok scored in his return to the lineup after missing six games with an undisclosed injury.
Florida led 5-3 before Roman Josi and Matt Duchene scored in the final 2:06. Josi made it 5-4 at 17:54 with goalie Pekka Rinne pulled for an extra attacker and went on the power play after the Panthers unsuccessfully challenged the goal contending the puck had been played with a high stick. Duchene then tied it 5-5 at 19:03.
"We had a discussion in between the second and third and they went out there, there was no quit," Predators coach John Hynes said. "We were going to drive that third period the way that we wanted to play, and it's nice to see you guys do it and get rewarded for because I think there's been some games where you certainly deserve better than we've gotten. That's nice."

The teams play again here Friday (7 p.m. ET; FS-F, FS-TN, NHL.TV).
Huberdeau's five points set an NHL career high; he had four points eight previous times.
"I'm happy to get it out of the way, first one (hat trick), but it would have been just nice to get a win tonight," Huberdeau said. "I think we should have won that one, a tough one to lose. We're back at it tomorrow, but a tough one tonight."
Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves and failed to become the first Panthers goalie to win his first four starts in a season.
Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist for Florida. His goal was his 158th, moving him past Scott Mellanby into second place in Panthers history, behind Olli Jokinen (188).
Duchene's goals were his first of the season.
"I've been playing well and getting a ton of chances and haven't been able to get them to go, and this was probably the first time I really just didn't ever panic," Duchene said. "I got mad a couple times, but I never started changing my game. Hockey has a funny way of rewarding you, and you focus on the team first, and that was my mentality."
Goalie Juuse Saros was replaced after two periods after giving up five goals on 24 shots. Rinne made 12 saves.
"He never ceases to amaze you," Hynes said of Rinne. "He made some big saves. We were kind of pushing and pressing and chasing the game, and they had some quality chances. For him to come in and play the way he played, he held the fort for us. And it allowed us to be able to get up and get going and get moving. So I think that's the big reason why we found the way to win."
Huberdeau made it 1-0 1:28 into the game on a breakaway and 2-1 at 10:09 after Forsberg scored a power-play at 9:02.
Huberdeau's third goal gave Florida a 5-3 lead at 15:54 of the second period. He got a loose puck in the high slot and took a quick wrist shot.

After Jarnkork tied it 2-2 at 15:48 of the first, Aaron Ekblad gave the Panthers their third lead, 3-2, 54 seconds into the second period with a power-play goal. Duchene tied it 3-3 at 6:50, and Barkov scored a power-play goal at 8:01 after taking a cross-ice feed from Huberdeau to make it 4-3.
"It's a tough one," Huberdeau said. "At least we got a point, but we have to come back and forget about it. Tomorrow is a new day."
NOTE: It was the first time since March 1, 2009 that opposing players had five points in the same game (Mark Recchi of the Tampa Bay Lightning (five assists) and Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames (two goals, three assists)). ... Predators center Ryan Johansen did not play in the third period because of an undisclosed injury.