Forsberg takes game to another level in playoffs for Predators

Filip Forsberg gave NHL defensemen fits all season. He has continued to do so in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Nashville Predators forward has scored four goals, two in spectacular fashion.
He has looked almost impossible to stop, but former NHL defenseman and current Predators broadcaster Hal Gill knows what he would have done if he had to face Forsberg.

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"I would've wrapped my arms around him, hugged him and hopefully that would've been the end of the play," said Gill, who played 1,108 NHL games over 16 seasons from 1997-2014. "Now the game's different; he's not going to get held up."
It's not easy facing Forsberg, whose 64 points (26 goals, 38 assists) this season tied an NHL career high set in 2015-16. He had six points (four goals, two assists) in six games against the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference First Round.
The Predators will play the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, with the start of the best-of-7 series to be determined. Forsberg had four points (all assists) in five regular-season games against the Jets.

Forsberg badly beat Avalanche defenders on two of his goals in the first round. In Game 1, Forsberg pulled the puck between his legs, then pushed it between Avalanche defenseman Sam Girard's legs and scored.
Predators forward Nick Bonino, who saw plenty of dazzling plays with former Pittsburgh Penguins teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, said, "I didn't even celebrate. I was just stunned, it was so good."
Forsberg was nonchalant about the Game 1 goal.
"It's one of those things that comes up, I guess, when you skate," he said. "I just tried to use my speed wide."
In Game 4, Forsberg used his speed. He skated to the left of Avalanche defenseman Duncan Siemens, pushed the puck under Siemens' stick, burst forward, caught the puck and scored.
Predators GM David Poile said opposing defenses should get used to the highlight-reel plays by Forsberg.
"It's not going to get old," said Poile, who acquired Forsberg in a trade from the Washington Capitals on April 3, 2013 for forwards Martin Erat and Michael Latta. "It's one of the features of a top player that he continues to do this. When I look back at our own team but [also] watching the playoffs, there are always big plays, defining moments and guys who can take their game to another level. Filip is showing he can do that on a nightly basis."
Forsberg doesn't just make up the moves as he goes along. He is always coming up with new tricks to show opposing defenders.
"He's one of those guys who thinks of stuff that maybe the normal player doesn't. There are a few of those in the League, and he's definitely one of the elite ones," Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. "He's just a tremendous puck-handler and when he turns on the jets, he has the speed to break down defenses."
Gill said shutting down Forsberg (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) is tough because he brings a combination of strengths.
"You're talking about skill and power," Gill said. "With the skill guys, you keep your position, keep moving, keep your stick active because they're trying to get around your stick. So really you just want to be active and in good position. When you have a power guy, you expect him to lean on you, bull rush and go through. So you have to be ready, get your body set, get down low and get ready to move with him and try to get the power on him.
"You have to be ready for that bull rush, like he did in [Game 4] in Colorado. But you also have to be ready for the skill move he made against Girard in Game 1. It's really a double threat, and then you add the fact he can pull back and that's what happened with Girard, I think. He's expecting that shot and Filip has a different release point. He pulls it inside and he changes that angle. So you really have to be good with your stick in order to tip that shot. And he sets it up so if he's ready to shoot, you respect the shot. You have to."
Forsberg has always had the skill. He also has more power, and that makes him even tougher to contain.
"His skating and ability to hold an edge and set it and be strong on it and keep that speed while he's doing it has gotten a lot better. His ability to read the play and use that stick work to make plays happen has been a lot better," Gill said. "He's probably had the skill the whole time and he just hasn't pulled it out. Now he has the confidence in his skating ability and stick ability and he's putting it all together."