Josi scores in OT to give Predators win against Maple Leafs

NASHVILLE – Roman Josi scored at 2:13 of overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Josi, who also had an assist, won the game on a wrist shot from the top of the slot off a pass by Luke Evangelista. 

“It felt like a really intense game,” Josi said. “It felt like it was really fast. Obviously, with their team, they’ve got some firepower up front, some really good players. I think in the first couple of games we were in position to get some points and we didn’t get them in the third period. Tonight was huge at home, 2-2 going into the third and finding a way to get two points is big for our group.”

Ryan O'Reilly scored twice, Evangelista and Filip Forsberg each had two assists and Juuse Saros made 33 saves for the Predators (4-4-0).

“They’re a great team on the other side, but I thought we went toe-to-toe with them all night,” Forsberg said. “It was a pretty even hockey match. I’m sure [people] enjoyed watching it. We had a good time playing it as well. I thought we played overtime about as good as you can in this league and kept the puck and wore them down. A great goal by [Josi].”

William Nylander scored, and Ilya Samsonov made 21 saves for the Maple Leafs (5-2-1), who ended their five-game road trip 3-1-1.

“It’s an important point for us,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I liked how our guys stayed with it. A few posts, a few missed breakaways. It’s that close to being able to get another two [points] here tonight. But I think there’s a lot of good things to take away from this game and really, through this trip. There’s a lot of good things that we can take back home with us.”

Nylander gave Toronto a 1-0 lead at 13:32 of the first period with a power-play goal on a one-timer off a pass by Auston Matthews. He has 12 points (six goals, six assists) during an eight-game point streak.

“I think we built a good stretch here of games and established how we want to play for the most part on the road trip,” Nylander said. “Bring that home with us.”

O’Reilly tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal of his own at 15:05 of the first period. He took the puck to the net from the end boards and slid a shot five-hole on Samsonov.

Mark Giordano gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead at 12:46 of the second period, poking a loose puck into the net to the right of Saros.

O’Reilly scored his second power-play goal to tie it 2-2 at 15:08 of the second period, redirecting a shot pass by Forsberg past Samsonov.

“It feels good for sure,” O’Reilly said. “The first one was a little lucky. I kind of fanned on it and it ended up in the net. But especially two for the power play, it’s so important. Our first three games of the season we did some great 5-on-5 things and just couldn’t bury a power play. It was nice to get them like that. If we are going to have success, we’ve got to step up on the power play.”

NOTES: O’Reilly was playing against the Maple Leafs for the first time since signing as a free agent with the Predators on July 1. He had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 13 games with the Maple Leafs last season.... Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury. There was no update after the game. … Jake McCabe missed the game for Toronto because of a lower-body injury. Keefe said McCabe would be back “before too long” at morning skate on Saturday. … Nylander became the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to begin the season with an eight-game point streak, joining Frank Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald and John Anderson. … Forward Liam Foudy made his debut with the Predators after being claimed off waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 21. He finished with a minus-1 rating in 5:25.