Predators recover to defeat Canucks on Sissons goal in OT

NASHVILLE -- Colton Sissons scored 3:05 into overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

Sissons cut to the net and beat goaltender Anders Nilsson with a redirection of Nick Bonino's pass to the low slot.
"It was a little bit scary at the end there," Sissons said of Nashville surrendering a two-goal lead late in the third period. "I thought we played a great game. I'm not sure the score was indicative of the play. I really liked our effort tonight, really all 60 minutes, so it's stuff we can build off of."
WATCH: [All Canucks vs. Predators highlights]
The Predators (21-10-1) have won two games in a row after losing two straight. They have the best record in the Western Conference.

The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Canucks (14-16-4), who tied the game with two special-teams goals in the final 4:05.
"For us to stick with it and not get frustrated and keep competing hard in that third period and to get that point, it's huge," said forward Brock Boeser, whose power-play goal made it 3-2 at 15:55 of the third period. "And it shows our character in the room."
Bo Horvat scored shorthanded to tie it 3-3 with 44 seconds remaining. With Nilsson pulled for the extra attacker, Nikolay Goldobin took the initial shot, and Horvat backhanded the rebound past goalie Pekka Rinne.

Boeser scored with a one-timer from above the left face-off circle after Vancouver's top power-play unit made some adjustments.
"We just thought it wasn't working, so we went back to our old positions where we feel comfortable," Boeser said. "I thought we were gaining momentum there even before that goal. I thought we were getting chances and stuff. Luckily, I finally scored a one-timing goal."
Ryan Hartman gave the Predators a 1-0 lead 5:52 into the game on a shot from the top of the right circle.

"The score didn't really reflect how well we were playing," Hartman said. "We did a lot of good things, had a lot of chances. Nilsson made some good saves. We deserved that win."
Bonino made it 2-0 at 8:40 of the first period on a shot from the left circle off a pass on the rush from Sissons.
Jay Beagle scored for the Canucks on a 2-on-1 rush while shorthanded to make it 2-1 at 15:15.

Markus Granlund intercepted a pass by Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm and found Beagle, who scored his first goal for Vancouver since signing as a free agent July 1.
Calle Jarnkrok gave the Predators a 3-1 lead at 11:05 of the second period when he redirected the initial shot by Kyle Turris, who returned to the Nashville lineup after missing eight games with an undisclosed injury.
"My legs felt good," Turris said. "I mean, my timing was off, but that's something that will come. I'm just excited to be back."

They said it

"It was nice. It was nice for our guys to stay with it, obviously, and get a point in a game that we played a team tonight that was ready to go, and you could see why they're one of the favorites to challenge for the Stanley Cup. But nice for our guys to fight right to the end and find a way to get a point."-- Canucks coach Travis Green
"I think we've made really good decisions with the puck. Last time we played Vancouver, we didn't make good decisions, so tonight was a big difference with regard to that. The offensive zone play, I think we're simplifying and executing. I thought we did a really good job of just pursuing pucks in the offensive zone, especially from the top of the circles down. Just the first two forwards were really working hard. We turned over a lot of pucks and from there were able to sustain some offensive-zone time." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette

Need to know

Elias Pettersson had an assist on Boeser's goal and has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in a five-game point streak. … Jarnkrok had a game-high five shots on goal and nine shot attempts. ... Kevin Fiala scored at 1:24 of the third period, but the goal was overturned after Green challenged for offside and video review showed Fiala entered the zone before the puck at 1:20.

What's next

Canucks:Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, SN360, SN1, CITY, NBCSP, NHL.TV)
Predators: Host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-TN, MSG, NHL.TV)