Filip Forsberg ties it in the final minute for Nashville (Video)
The Swedish forward saved the day for the Predators, tying Game 4 at 2.
With 35 seconds left in regulation, Filip Forsberg scored for the Nashville Predators to tie Game 4 of the NHL’s Western Conference Final at 2-2. The Predators completed their two-goal comeback late in the third period, after the Anaheim Ducks took a 2-0 lead before the midway point of the game.
Nashville thought they had their chance minutes before, when a couple of Anaheim penalties gave them a two-man advantage when the score was 2-1. Although the Ducks killed the penalty off well, their efforts were all for naught as they couldn’t stop the Preds from scoring in the last minute of play.
With goalie Pekka Rinne out for an extra attacker, the Ducks squandered a valuable faceoff win by icing the puck, giving Nashville another chance. The puck came out to the Preds’ blueline the second time, as the home team circled it to the back of the net. A goalmouth scramble put the puck on Forsberg’s stick, who shoveled it at John Gibson twice before beating him between the pads.
TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/hYhu45Tizd
— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) May 19, 2017
Forsberg ties it up for Nashville with under a minute left to force OT pic.twitter.com/u3NeomTQwW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 19, 2017
The goal was Forsberg’s seventh of the playoffs, assisted by linemate Viktor Arvidsson. The young Swede has been one of his team’s most important players in the postseason so far, putting up 12 key points for the Predators.
The Preds were given life just six minutes before, when PK Subban scored to make it 2-1. The home team didn’t show life until late, looking extremely flat-footed in the first period. The Ducks outshot Nashville 14-2 in the opening 20 minutes, with Rinne’s performances in goal the only thing keeping it close.
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With the game going to overtime, though, Nashville now has a chance to take a 3-1 series lead over the Ducks. Anaheim will be disappointed they blew a two-goal lead, but they’ll still get a chance to tie the conference final up at 2. Both teams are vying for a chance to play the Pittsburgh Penguins or Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup Final.