Flames withstand rally by Predators for OT win

NASHVILLE -- Mark Giordano scored 43 seconds into overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 6-5 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
Giordano attempted a pass that went off of Predators forward Filip Forsberg and past Juuse Saros.
The Flames (30-26-4) moved one point behind the Predators (28-22-9) for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Johnny Gaudreau had four assists and Sean Monahan had three for Calgary.
"That's big-time character," Giordano said. "We're up 4-1, they score four goals, but they scored their last one to go ahead with 30 seconds left or whatever it was in the [second] period. To come out the way we did, we had some great shifts early. I thought we carried the play in the third, and then we have a big kill at the end. Can't get much more positive than that in a period."

WATCH: All Flames vs. Predators highlights
Forsberg scored three goals in 8:37 in the second period for his third NHL hat trick and Colin Wilson added another to bring the Predators back from down three goals to take a 5-4 lead.
"[Forsberg] was good," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "Just talking to that line this morning, I thought it was important that they had a big game and they did. I thought they played well throughout, but I think the second period stands out as a period that got us a point tonight and got us into a hockey game. [Forsberg] was terrific."

Flames forward Mikael Backlund tied the game 5-5 at 10:50 of the third period on a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle.
Micheal Ferland gave the Flames a 1-0 lead 46 seconds into the first period on a one-timer from above the left faceoff circle.
"Put pucks on net, like that first one," Ferland said. "I didn't even see it go in. I thought it was going to miss the net. It went off of a glove or something and went in. It was good to get in the first shift."
P.K. Subban tied the game 1-1 at 9:20 on a slap shot from the point. The original call on the ice was no goal for incidental contact by Kevin Fiala on goalie Brian Elliott in the crease, but Laviolette challenged and the call was overturned. It was Subban's ninth goal of the season and his first since Dec. 6.

Backlund gave Calgary a 2-1 lead at 11:00 on a rebound.
Ferland gave the Flames a 3-1 lead at 17:24 with his 10th of the season.
Dougie Hamilton gave Calgary a 4-1 lead at 5:12 of the second period on a wrist shot from the slot. It was Hamilton's ninth goal.
The Predators pulled Pekka Rinne for Saros following Hamilton's goal.

Goal of the game

Ferland's second goal of the game came on a 2-on-1 on a wrist shot that beat Rinne above the shoulder on the blocker side just below the crossbar.

Save of the game

Elliott made a glove save on Ryan Johansen in the first period on the rush on the power play. Fiala made a cross-ice pass to Johansen, who couldn't get the one-timer past Elliott.

Unsung performance of the game

The Flames killed a Predators power play that began with 2:38 remaining in the third period to extend the game to overtime.

Highlight of the game

Forsberg battled through two Calgary defenders and scored on a backhand shot for his first goal of the game.

They said it

"I think it goes back to [Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr]. It doesn't matter how many you let in as long as you let in one less than the other guy. It was one of those games where pucks were going in. You just kind of have to battle down and try to shut that door as best as possible. We did a great job of responding in the third so I didn't have to make too many saves." -- Flames goaltender Brian Elliott on the flow of the game
"I'm pretty honest. If I thought the effort wasn't right or things weren't the way they were supposed to be, I'd admit it. I'd tell them, I'd tell you the same thing, but I don't think that was the case tonight. Calgary's got a good hockey team and they're fighting for the playoffs, but I thought our guys showed up and were ready to go to work in the first period and it just didn't bounce our way." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette on the loss

Need to know

Defenseman Michael Stone made his debut for the Flames after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. He had an assist in 17:09 of ice time. … Subban has a goal and eight assists in his past six games.

What's next

Flames: At the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; SNW, SUN, NHL.TV)
Predators: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; SN360, SNP, ALT2, FS-TN, NHL.TV)