The Nashville Predators squandered a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings, but Nick Blankenburg scored at 1:03 of overtime to lift Nashville to a 3-2 win Saturday at Bridgestone Arena.
Goaltender Justus Annunen made 22 saves to earn his second straight win with the Predators. With the overtime win, Nashville now has a three-game point streak (2-0-1) and moves to 10-17-7 on the season.
How the Predators lined up vs. Los Angeles
Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
L’Heureux-O’Reilly-Nyquist
Jankowski- Novak-Evangelista
Smith-McCarron-Sissons
Lauzon-Josi
Skjei-Blankenburg
Wilsby-Schenn
Annunen
Saros
Extra: Pärssinen, Barron
Roman Josi was activated from IR after missing the previous four games with a lower-body injury. Justin Barron, acquired Wednesday evening in a trade that sent Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens, arrived in Nashville late Thursday afternoon and did not suit up for the Predators in Saturday’s game.
Annunen, acquired via trade from the Colorado Avalanche at the end of November, made his first start on home ice for the Predators.
Game Summary
After what could hardly be described as an inspiring start from either team, Gustav Nyquist got things going for the Predators with a beautiful backhand pass in front of the net to Zachary L’Heureux, who tapped it in to give Nashville a 1-0 lead at 14:16 of the first period.
Josi wasted no time making an impact in his return to the lineup, assisting on Jonathan Marchessault’s goal at the 14-minute mark of the second period. With some impressive stick handling, Josi dangled around a pair of Kings defenders and slid the puck across the crease to Marchessault, who punched it in to extend Nashville’s lead to 2-0.
Quinton Byfield spoiled the shutout bid midway through the third period to bring the Kings within one. Alex Laferriere scored the tying goal for Los Angeles on a rebound off Joel Edmundson’s shot from the point on a delayed penalty call at 13:23 of the third period.
Just over a minute into overtime, Blankenburg found the rebound of Filip Forsberg’s shot below the goal line and backhanded it into the open net to win it for Nashville.
Key Takeaways & Notes
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L’Heureux had an assist in Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, so his first-period goal against the Kings gave him the first point-scoring streak of his NHL career.
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With a goal in the second period, Marchessault has a goal in three straight games and extended his point streak to six games. He has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in that span.
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Blankenburg’s OT game winner was the first of his career.
Up Next
The Predators wrap up their four-game homestand Monday, when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Bridgestone Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network South and on NHL Network.
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