Predators recover, defeat Flyers in OT on Forsberg goal

NASHVILLE -- Filip Forsberg scored 18 seconds into overtime, and Juuse Saros made 37 saves in a 3-2 win for the Nashville Predators against the Philadelphia Flyers at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Forsberg took a wrist shot from the left circle, then poked the puck into the net from behind Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson.

“I knew [the puck] was somewhere over there,” Forsberg said. “I didn’t see it but I kind of had a feeling that [Ersson] didn’t have it in front of him at least, so I figured I would go check at least. I was able to find it pretty cleanly, thankfully, so it was good.”

Forsberg also had an assist for the Predators (16-13-0), who have won their past two games and five of six. They are 11-3-0 in their past 14 games.

Saros has made 73 saves on 76 shots in Nashville’s past two games.

“It’s been outstanding,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said of Saros’ play. “I kind of feel bad. Obviously on the coaching part we’re not too proud of the amount of shots we’re giving up. But individually for him, outstanding, kind of as expected and as advertised. I think he’s getting a little bit more comfortable in the way we play.”

Sean Couturier had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (15-10-3), whose four-game winning streak ended. Ersson made 19 saves.

“I don’t have one problem with the team tonight,” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. “In the third period, we sacrificed when they did have some time in our end. We just ate pucks.”

Travis Sanheim scored for the Flyers to tie the game 2-2 at 6:49 of the third period on a rebound on the rush. Travis Konecny took the initial shot that got blocked, and Sanheim got to the rebound for his fourth goal.

“I was just following up the play as I try to do a lot,” Sanheim said. “Just a fortunate bounce that sits there. Happy to put that in.”

Gustav Nyquist gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 9:42 of the first period on a redirection of a shot from the point by Alexandre Carrier.

“We got the job done,” Nyquist said. “Another battle. We’re battling out there. Obviously, we don’t seem to have maybe our best right now, but [Saros] was great and kept us in the game. We found a way to win again so that’s a big positive.”

Michael McCarron made it 2-0 at 3:05 of the second period on a wrist shot from the slot on a delayed penalty. Luke Schenn’s point shot was deflected, and McCarron got to the loose puck and beat Ersson above the shoulder on the blocker side.

“I think we played really good as a fourth line tonight,” McCarron said of his line with Cole Smith and Juuso Parssinen. “I think we were all over pucks, hunting pucks. We spent most of the time in the [offensive] zone tonight as a line. We were heavy over pucks. Momentum-changing type shifts that fourth lines need to do, and I think we were able to do that tonight. We were lucky enough to find the back of the net.”

Couturier scored for the Flyers to make it 2-1 at 19:35 of the second period on a pass from Joel Farabee. Couturier dragged the puck around Saros’ left pad on the rush and scored his seventh goal.

“It’s a huge point,” Couturier said. “We battled hard all night. Down two goals, to find a way to get back in the game and get a big point, it’s definitely huge. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get the extra one but a lot of positives.”

NOTES: Forsberg scored his 10th overtime goal, surpassing David Legwand for the most in Predators history. … Flyers forward Ryan Poehling returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games because of an illness. He won three of five face-offs in 12:36 of ice time. … Schenn returned after being a healthy scratch in a 2-1 Predators win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. He had two shot attempts and five hits in 15:10 of ice time.