Forsberg, Predators defeat Matthews, Maple Leafs

NASHVILLE --Filip Forsberg became the leading goal-scorer in Nashville Predators history in a 6-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Forsberg has scored 211 goals in 546 games to move ahead of David Legwand, who played 956 games with Nashville.
"It was awesome," Forsberg said. "Obviously, it's been a great ride so far. I played with [Legwand] for a little bit. My first point was his 200th goal. So we've come a long way since then."
Matt Duchene, Yakov Trenin and Eeli Tolvanen each had a goal and an assist, and Roman Josi had three assists for the third straight game for Nashville (36-22-4), which has won six of eight. Juuse Saros made 38 saves.
The Predators were coming off a 5-4 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday during which they blew a lead late in the third period.
"In situations where we haven't played to our identity, I think that our response has been really good," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "Tonight was another example of that. I think there were some issues we had against Philadelphia that went in a different direction tonight, as far as our readiness to play and our commitment level to compete without the puck. I thought defensively we played pretty sound."

Mitchell Marner had two goals and an assist, and Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in his return from a two-game suspension for Toronto (39-18-5). Erik Kallgren made 28 saves.
"I think it just kind of took me a period to get going," Matthews said. "Even still, I felt maybe just like my timing was a little bit off, a quarter second off. I think that is kind of to be expected, but I think halfway through the game I kind of started feeling more like myself. I had some good opportunities tonight (10 shots). I hit a couple posts. All in all, I think it was a good game for me to get back into."
Tanner Jeannot gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 13:46 of the first period, shooting glove side from the left circle on a 3-on-2 rush. He leads NHL rookies with 21 goals this season.
Tolvanen made it 2-0 at 1:48 of the second period on a redirection of Jeremy Davies' shot.
Marner scored his 25th goal of the season on a one-timer in the slot to cut it to 2-1 at 8:04, but Matthias Ekholm responded to make it 3-1 at 10:52, beating Kallgren short side with a one-timer from along the right boards.
Matthews cut it to 3-2 at 3:41 of the third period, tucking in his own rebound near the left post. He leads the NHL with 46 goals, one shy of his career high he set in 2019-20.
"I thought it took him a while to really get going in the game, but once he did, he was real good," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "He could have had three or four tonight. He could have changed the game. He gets a huge goal for us in the third, but he could have had a bunch more. He did his thing."

Forsberg set the Predators record with a power-play goal to make it 4-2 at 12:11, and Duchene extended the lead to 5-2 at 14:09 when he scored his NHL career-high 32nd goal.
Marner made it 5-3 at 15:09, but Trenin shot into an empty net at 19:08 for the 6-3 final.
NOTES:Josi has scored 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in his past four games. He is the second defenseman in NHL history to score at least three points in four straight games, joining Bobby Orr (six games in 1970-71). … Duchene extended his point streak to nine games (nine goals, eight assists), which ties his NHL career high. … Maple Leafs forward William Nylander had an assist to extend his point streak to six games (two goals, six assists). … Toronto forward Ondrej Kase left the game at 4:55 of the second period after taking an elbow to the head from Duchene. Keefe said Kase was "doing OK" and that he will be reevaluated Sunday.