Predators use 3-goal third period to edge Wild 3-2
Alexandre Carrier and Filip Forsberg scored 35 seconds apart to open a three-goal third period, Juuse Saros made 22 saves and the Nashville Predators came back to beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Thursday night.
Roman Josi added his 10th goal of the season and had an assist, while Ryan O'Reilly had two assists for Nashville. The Predators had lost three of four, but are 21-11-1 in their last 33 games. They entered the day tied for fifth in the NHL in points since Nov. 18 after starting the season 5-10-0.
Joel Eriksson Ek scored his team-leading 21st goal of the season for Minnesota and Matt Boldy got his 16th. Filip Gustavsson stopped 25 shots for the Wild, which had its three-game winning streak stopped. Minnesota had been 14-0-1 when leading after two periods.
Eriksson Ek opened the scoring midway through the second period on the power play. Kirill Kaprizov came away with the puck in the slot and fired a shot that deflected off Eriksson Ek's knee past Saros.
Eriksson Ek has goals in three straight games and ran his point streak to six games in which he has six goals and five assists.
Carrier's fourth goal of the season tied it just 1:44 into the third and Forsberg added his team-leading 23rd goal of the season.
Carrier was in all alone after taking a pass from the wall from teammate Yakov Trenin. He wristed a quick shot high stick side. Less than a minute later, Forsberg deflected a point shot from Josi past Gustavsson.
Josi added his second goal in three games when his shot from the point found its way through as O'Reilly and defenseman Brock Faber jumped and screened Gustavsson.
Boldy scored on the power play with just under four minutes remaining.
Minnesota was 2 for 4 with the man advantage.
UP NEXT
Predators: Play at Edmonton on Saturday.
Wild: Host Anaheim on Saturday.
