Predators Top Golden Knights in OT, 3-2

Tommy Novak and Alex Pietrangelo traded two-goal periods, but Cody Glass was the overtime hero as the Nashville Predators defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.
Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves in goal for the Predators, who improved to 39-30-8 on the season.

THE STORY

Novak got the Preds on the board at 6:50 of the first period, receiving Luke Evangelista's pass, driving to the net and putting home a backhander to make it 1-0.

Novak's second goal of the period came on the power play with Ivan Barbashev in the box for holding against Tyson Barrie. Novak collected the loose puck and went top shelf to give Nashville a 2-0 lead at 13:08.

Rasmus Asplund headed to the penalty box minutes later for tripping Teddy Blueger, forcing the Predators to play shorthanded for the first time in the game. Just 14 seconds into Asplund's penalty, Ryan McDonagh was called for high-sticking against Barbashev to give Vegas a two-man advantage. Lankinen, Kevin Gravel and the Preds PK unit faced a flurry of shots but successfully killed the 5-on-3 to keep Vegas off the board.
Barrie nearly widened Nashville's lead to 3-0 with three minutes remaining in the first frame, but the goal was waved off after it was determined that Barrie kicked the puck into the net.
Pietrangelo got the Golden Knights on the board at 6:00 of the second period, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Lankinen stopped Pietrangelo's initial shot from the top of the circle, but the rebound deflected in off the back of Gravel.
Pietrangelo then unleashed a shot from the edge of the face-off circle for his second goal of the period at 13:39 to tie the score at 2-2.
Glass won it for Nashville on the power play when his cross-crease pass deflected in off the skate of Brayden McNabb at 3:30 of overtime.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Two for Tommy
After a two-goal performance, Novak now has 40 points (17g-23a) in 45 games with Nashville since being recalled from Milwaukee (AHL) on Dec. 19. In a 23-game span since Feb. 18, he has posted 29 points (13g-16a) - including eight multi-point efforts. Since his season debut, Novak has tallied the most points among Predators skaters.
Glasser Calls Game
After opening the season with three points (1g-2a) in his first 16 appearances (Oct. 7-Dec. 12), Glass owns 30 points (13g-17a) in his last 51 games. He's also found the scoresheet in 18 of his last 36 games (10g-12a). Glass has established career highs in goals (14), assists (19) and points (33) this season.
Glass' two points (1g-1a) were his first against his former team. Glass was selected by Vegas in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft; he was the Golden Knights' first-ever draft pick. He played in 66 games for Vegas from 2019-21, tallying 22 points (9g-13a). Glass was acquired by Nashville from Vegas for forward Nolan Patrick on July 17, 2021.
Kevins on the Kill
Nine of Lankinen's 30 saves came while the Preds were shorthanded. Gravel led all players with six blocked shots, including two on the 5-on-3 penalty kill in the first period.

THEY SAID IT

Philip Tomasino on the win:
"Today was a big game for us. I thought it was a good effort. [Vegas] had some pushes late especially, and I think we handled it well. Obviously, [Lankinen] was incredible tonight so I think without him, it would've been a different game. But we've got a few more games to rein in and they're all against top teams. So we've got to have the same effort night in and night out and hopefully that will lead to success."

Novak on the win:
"I think we just came out probably a little bit better than they did and I think our feet were moving a little bit better. It's tough on the back-to-backs and both teams played last night in different cities. So I think it just comes down to being ready. We were ready in the first, they had a really big push in the second and we kind of weathered it a bit in the second and third and got the win."

Glass on the 5-on-3 kill:
"That was huge. [Gravel] was playing goalie for a good minute I think it was and blocked like three shots, so he's doing a great job. And [Lankinen] was stellar again tonight. So that was a huge part of it. The game could have gotten a little bit out of hand after that. But our PK did a really good job."
Glass on Nashville's goaltending tandem of Lankinen and Juuse Saros:
"Without them, I don't know where we would be. They're two special goalies and they're really good off the ice too. They're great people, which makes it that much better and you root for them that much more."

Head Coach John Hynes on Nashville's resiliency:
"I've come to expect it, to be honest. I think over the last five weeks, we've gone through a lot of different situations and we've had some games where we haven't had our best effort and it cost us some games, but I think the one thing about the group is that they're eager to learn and they're hungry to win."

UP NEXT

The Preds will wrap up their two game homestand on Thursday, when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Bridgestone Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+/Hulu, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.