Forsberg Tallies 200th Career Goal as Preds Fall to Oilers in Shootout

Filip Forsberg scored his 200th career goal, but the Nashville Predators ultimately fell to the Edmonton Oilers by a 3-2 final in a shootout on Thursday night at Rogers Place. The result brings an end to Nashville's three-game win streak, but the Preds did collect a point in the standings as they move to 3-0-1 in their last four outings.
Matt Duchene also tallied in regulation for Nashville to extend his goal streak to three games, and Juuse Saros made 44 saves through 65 minutes of play in another stellar performance.
Of course, the Predators would have preferred two more points on the night, but one is better than none to finish off the two-game trip.

"I thought we played pretty well," Duchene said. "I think we didn't give up too much. I'd love to see the chances - I feel like we had a few more than they did - but their goalie played outstanding, made some big saves and Juice did for us as well. Both goalies were good in the shootout, and you get to a shootout and it's a bit of a coin flip and a bit of a skills competition and our shooters, including myself, weren't able to find one. So, that's the way it goes."
"You're certainly disappointed you didn't get the second point, but we did have some good looks in overtime, as did they, and I thought throughout the game," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "We fought hard enough to get one, which every point you accumulate throughout the year is really important, but we're certainly not satisfied with one. We would like two, for sure."

Forsberg's 200th came just over five minutes into the contest when he snapped a shot through a screen and beat Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen for a 1-0 lead. Connor McDavid tied the game for the Oilers before the opening period was out with a burst of speed to the net, but midway through the second, Forsberg sprung Duchene on a 2-on-1, and No. 95 sniped his 21st of the season off the post and in to give the Preds the lead once more.
Edmonton evened the score again late in the second stanza as a point shot from Evan Bouchard bounced past Saros, and neither team was able to capitalize in the final frame or overtime. McDavid was the lone participant to convert in the shootout, however, to give the Oilers their third-straight win.
Forsberg's milestone was a bright spot on the night as he etched his way further into the Nashville record books by becoming just the second player in Predators history to score 200 career goals - David Legwand paces the franchise's all-time list with 210.
"He's feeling it," Duchene said of Forsberg, who has 22 goals on the season. "I mean, he's shooting the puck really well. He's got one of the best shots in the League and he doesn't need much. I think he and I both felt like we probably left one or two each out there tonight. [Koskinen] made some good saves on us. But he's feeling it right now and he's pretty automatic around the net."

From here, the Preds will head home and will have a rare four-day stretch without a game before they host Vancouver on Tuesday night, and Nashville will do everything they can to take advantage before trying for another two points prior to the upcoming All-Star break.
"Rest, number one," Duchene said of the team's priorities in the days ahead. "It's been a tough stretch. The two days before the Seattle game I know all of us were kind of running on fumes, and everyone's dealing with some sort of little bump or bruise this time of year. The nice part is we get a chance to get [forward Eeli Tolvanen] and maybe [defenseman Dante Fabbro] back in the lineup. I think the schedule in February sets up well for us. Usually February is a big grind, and I think we're going to have lots of days in between games. If we're using them wisely, I think it will set us up to be fresh every night, so we want to finish really well here against Vancouver and go into the break on a high note."

Notes:

Forsberg also registered his 102nd career multi-point game. Only three players in Predators history have more: Legwand (120), Roman Josi (114) and Martin Erat (110).
Prior to Thursday's game, the Predators recalled forward Matt Luff and defenseman Matt Tennyson from the taxi squad. Eeli Tolvanen remained on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list and missed Thursday's game. Defensemen Ben Harpur and Philippe Myers were scratched for Nashville.
The Predators will now return home, and after the weekend passes, they'll host Vancouver on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena for their final game before 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend.