The finale in Stockholm didn’t go Nashville’s way on Sunday afternoon, but it was still quite a week in Sweden.
The Predators fell by a 4-0 final to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Avicii Arena to conclude the 2025 NHL Global Series, a trip that saw the Preds collect an overtime win on the first half of the excursion overseas.
An even game played out once the first 11 minutes of regulation concluded, but a slow start saw Nashville go down by three goals in the early going, and they weren’t able to recover before Pittsburgh added an empty-netter before the day was out.
“Slow start,” Forsberg said. “Obvoisuly, they got one and then got the second one off our own leg again, kind of put ourselves in a hole with three down into the second period. In the second, I thought it was better… We had opportunities to step up - we didn't take them. And then third, I think we left everything we put out there. But nothing went.”
“It was disappointing,” Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said of his team’s start. “I think the traction that we gained, we let slip away again, especially in the first period. I thought all the things that we talked about that we did on Friday, we did not do, and we knew they'd have a bigger sense of urgency. The puck meant more to them than us that period. It's a tough way to start a game, let alone give up three early. So, yeah, disappointing.”
Despite the ultimate result, Forsberg and fellow Swede Adam Wilsby had a week they’ll never forget, especially No. 9 who tied Friday’s game in the dying moments before Nashville prevailed in overtime.
“It's been unbelievable,” Forsberg said of the experience. “It's been so much fun. I've had both sets of grandparents here, who have watched at home. I've had family that you only see a week during the summer that have been watching their first NHL games. Obviously, we ate more meatballs than anyone on this team has ever thought they would eat probably, and I don't think we'll see another meatball for a while, but it's been unbelievable. I think it's been, speaking for me and [Wilsby], I'm sure he feels the same way. Obviously it would have been even sweeter to have another win on the plane with us home. But overall, it's been a great, great week.”
“I could see how much it meant to them, even after the game,” O’Reilly said of Forsberg and Wilsby. “It’s a great hockey country. It's great to see the support for them. It wasn't the best showing from us tonight, but still, I feel like for the fans and support, the hospitality throughout the city was amazing. The NHL did a great job putting this on, and hopefully there's much more of these down the road.”
O’Reilly revealed that Forsberg thanked his teammates following Sunday’s outing, a rarity in an NHL locker room after a loss. But the Swede, who skated in his 800th NHL game on Sunday in front of family and friends, felt it was important to do so as a show of gratitude to what this experience meant.
Forsberg knows that while he may never play another NHL game in his home country, he’s hopeful future generations get to experience the same joy he did over the past week. Perhaps the next Filip Forsberg was in the crowd this weekend - and that would be more than enough to make the journey to Sweden well worth the trek.
“Just speaking from my own experience, it's the most fun regular season games I've ever played in my life,” Forsberg said. “Being able to give back, see the Leksand kids yesterday after practice, all that stuff, it's not possible without us coming back, and I'm very thankful for that.”
Notes:
Nashville’s lineup remained unchanged on Sunday with the Preds dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Forwards Joakim Kemell and Tyson Jost were scratched.
By appearing in his 800th NHL game, Filip Forsberg became one of four Swedish players with 300 goals through their 800th contest. The others: Tomas Sandstrom (356), Mats Sundin (340) and Daniel Alfredsson (306).
With the Global Series now complete, the Preds will head back home to Nashville with their next game set for Nov. 22 against the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena.
