Predators Force Overtime With Eight Seconds Remaining, Defeat Devils 4-3

The Nashville Predators survived a second-period rally to secure a 4-3 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday at Prudential Center.
Despite a dominant first period, the Preds went from leading 2-0 to trailing 3-2 in a span of four minutes and 35 seconds in the second period. Kevin Bahl got New Jersey on the board less than two minutes into the frame, and Jesper Bratt followed with a power-play goal just 33 seconds later after Filip Forsberg was called for tripping on Yegor Sharangovich.
With Dante Fabbro in the box for hooking, the Preds PK unit also gave up the go-ahead goal to Alexander Holtz just over two minutes later. The score remained 3-2 until Mikael Granlund tied it for Nashville from the top of the crease with eight seconds remaining in the third period. Ryan Johansen netted the game winner 33 seconds into overtime with his second goal of the night.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Record-Setting Ryan
Ryan Johansen opened the scoring 11 seconds into the game, tying the Predators franchise record for the fastest goal to begin a game. David Legwand also scored 11 seconds into Nashville's game on April 5, 2007 vs. St. Louis. Johansen's tally set a franchise record for fastest goal to begin a road game, besting the previous mark of 12 seconds initially set by Shea Weber on April 7, 2010 at Phoenix.

Per NHL PR, it was Johansen's fourth goal in the opening minute of a game since joining the Preds, trailing only Legwand (5) for the most by a Nashville skater.
Colton Comes Alive
With less than a minute remaining in the first period, Colton Sissons scored his third goal of the season - and his second in as many games - to give the Predators a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Sissons now has four points (3g-1a) in the last five games.

With the assist on Sissons' goal, Roman Josi moved one point closer to passing Legwand for the most in franchise history. Josi (560) needs six points to tie Legwand (566) and seven to pass him.
Game-Tying Granny
Thursday evening marked the third time in franchise history the Preds have tied a game with 10 seconds or less remaining in the third period and gone on to win in overtime or the shootout.

Forward Mikael Granlund accounts for two of those late tying goals, and last did it on Feb. 27, 2020 against the Calgary Flames with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation. Granlund would also net the overtime-winner in the same game.

THEY SAID IT

Mikael Granlund on netting the equalizer with eight seconds remaining
"We had a really big penalty kill at the end there and we knew there was only 40-something seconds left. And [Matt Duchene] made a really good play in the neutral zone and got the puck in. And then it was just getting that one shot to the net and [trying to] create something and tonight we did a good job and got the equalizer from that."
Ryan Johansen on winning it in OT
"It's huge. We could have easily walked out of here with no points and it was just a simple shot to the net and guys converging. It seemed like we had 10 guys in front of the net. Everyone was going there and it was so huge to get us into OT and then leaving here with two. Those were a couple big plays and it was a great result."
Ryan Johansen on opening scoring 11 seconds into the game
"It was great to come out like that and kind of get a fortunate bounce there and whack it in. It was a good heads up play by [Cole Smith] and [Nino Niederreiter] being physical right off the start. We kind of caught their D a little flat-footed and [it was] great to get the first goal of the game."
Coach Hynes on coming up big in third period, overtime
"It's important in those situations. Six-on-five is high-stakes hockey and you go from getting no points to a point in the game, and that's something we emphasize with our guys. It's a high-stakes part of the game. If you're in six-on-five it means you're down and if you don't score in that situation, you get zero points out of the game and if you score at least you get one. And then we always talk about how three-on-three is high stakes hockey too. You've got to play it the right way. You've got to play it smart. And then you go from zero points to two points and that's something that we emphasize with our guys. But it was nice to see them come through and get it done in those key situations."
Coach Hynes on the success of the Johansen, Niederreiter, Smith line
"I really liked that line tonight. And I think it's been multiple games now where they've been pretty dominant in the offensive zone. They've had good looks, they look like they have good chemistry. So, that's good to see that line coming together."

UP NEXT

The Preds head to Long Island to take on the New York Islanders Friday at 6 p.m. CT at UBS Arena. The game will be broadcast exclusively on Hulu/ESPN+, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.