Forsberg's highlight-reel goal in Game 1 nothing new to Predators

NASHVILLE -- Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg pulled the puck back between his legs, sent it through the legs of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard and scored. It was dazzling, it was mesmerizing and Forsberg said that was exactly how he planned to do it.
"Just one of those that comes up, I guess, when you're skating, and it worked," Forsberg said.

He didn't have much space to execute that goal, his second of the game, but it provided needed breathing room for the Predators, who defeated the Avalanche 5-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. Forsberg is starting the Stanley Cup Playoffs as productively as he ended the regular season. He had 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in his final 30 games, and had 64 points (26 goals, 38 assists), tying a NHL career high set in 2015-16.
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As gorgeous as Forsberg's second goal was, the Predators weren't surprised to see it.
"I see that kind of stuff in practice all the time. I'm just pulling pucks out of my net," goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "That was a beautiful goal, just inside out and he's just such a skilled guy."
Forward Craig Smith said Forsberg has used the move before.
"A good protection move, pulling it through. It was incredible," Smith said. "I don't really know how he got the second stick on that. It was fun to watch. He's a guy who's talented and can make those plays and it's not unusual. It was great."

Predators coach Peter Laviolette wasn't as happy with the goal as he was how Forsberg scored it.
"What I really liked about it is that it was a power move," Laviolette said. "It wasn't just a standing skill move. He really picked up speed and did his best to drive. He's at his best when he's a power forward first and then he brings his skill element into it, and that's exactly what he did on that goal."
The Predators needed both of Forsberg's goals but especially the second one. Going into Game 1, the Avalanche players said they wanted to play loose but aggressive, and they did. They had leads of 1-0 and 2-1. Colorado's top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen failed to score a goal, although MacKinnon and Rantanen each had an assist.

"We got better by every period, so that was good," Laviolette said. "It's not that we started poorly. We came out and were trying to do the right things, and they scored a goal off of a screen off the rush. It lets a little bit of the air out of the building, and you've got to work from there."
The Predators saved their best for the third period when they scored three unanswered goals.
"We hadn't played our best hockey in the first two periods," Forsberg said. "We just wanted to push. They did a good job of playing us hard in the first two, and I don't think just that third period push was a good enough game."

Forsberg's second goal was a big part of that push. The Predators have seen that type of goal from Forsberg before, either against them at practice or against opponents. It's always dazzling, but it's especially nice to see it at this time of year.
"Beautiful goal," Rinne said. "You think, the first game of the playoffs and he's able to pull those moves off and finish the play. Great individual effort and to me, that's the goal that sealed the deal tonight."