Preds Pass: Nashville finds success on four-game road trip

All four Predators games last week resulted in overtime or shootouts, as they finished with a solid 2-2 record on the road. Nashville winger Filip Forsberg returned from his three-game suspension against the Canucks following his hit on Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey last week. Meanwhile, the Predators (75 points) solely possess second place in the Western Conference and first place in the Central Division.

Preds struggle in extra time

Nashville is now 6-9 on the season when games go past regulation time. However, things started off on a high note for the Predators in overtime on Monday, finishing off a spectacular comeback win over the Islanders with an overtime goal from captain Roman Josi.

The next two games weren’t so fortunate for Nashville in overtime, as the team dropped back-to-back games in Canada against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen made an incredible 44 saves and six shootout saves to give Toronto the 3-2 win Wednesday.

Just one day later, the Predators found themselves in overtime again with the Senators. Mike Hoffman put a breakaway goal past Juuse Saros to spoil Kyle Turris’ return to Ottawa after being traded to Nashville earlier this season.

Rinne’s historic performance

Nashville made up for its struggles early in the week with one of the most electric goaltending performances in recent memory by Pekka Rinne. Rinne logged 47 saves against Montreal for the second most saves in his career, giving him a 9-0-1 record in his last two games. Despite a late game-tying goal by Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin to send the matchup to overtime, Rinne made 10 overtime saves to send it to a shootout.

“There’s a reason he’s one of the top five goalies in the NHL. He’s got that size and that reach. The save he made on Nicolas Deslauriers in the third period is a good example,” Drouin said about Rinne.

Defenseman Ryan Ellis finished it off for the Predators and gave Nashville the 3-2 win in Montreal. Winger Scott Hartnell’s goal in the second period gave him his 699th NHL point.

Subban ruffles feathers in Montreal

Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban seemed to unnerve his former teammates in his return to Montreal on Saturday. Brendan Gallagher of the Canadiens had this to say about a scuffle in the game:

“It’s just battling hard. He was talking, doing what he does. But I don’t know why we’re talking about him. That’s kind of what he wants. He came in here and tried to make it about P.K. Subban, which is what he does,” Gallagher said.

Tensions rose in the second period when Gallagher missed a check on Subban and went back to the locker room to receive stitches above his eye.

“Some guys from the bench were saying stuff, but I couldn’t hear it. It’s so loud in this building, you know the way it is,” Subban said. “I’m sure it’s pretty quiet over there right now with two points on our side.”

Fisher participates in first practice

Former captain Mike Fisher took to the ice with the current team Monday. Predators General Manager David Poile said Fisher wouldn’t play until closer to the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

“I actually felt better than I thought I would at this point,” Fisher said. “Ten days isn’t a lot when you haven’t skated in a while. But I’m definitely happy (with) the way I’m feeling at this point. Probably better than I expected.”

Edited by Ben McKee

Featured image courtesy of NHL.com