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Nashville Predators Win Thriller of the Year Over Calgary Flames

By Anthony Nero

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 20: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators fires a shot against the Dallas Stars during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 20: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators fires a shot against the Dallas Stars during Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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The Nashville Predators defeated the Calgary Flames thanks to Mikael Granlund‘s game-tying and game-winning goals in an instant classic.

Mikael Granlund’s two goals for the Nashville Predators created an insane atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena that has been lacking for much of the season.

It felt like a playoff series win after Granlund’s tying goal with 0.1 seconds left on the clock in regulation. You literally can’t cut it any closer. The home crowd electrified and it was a great thing to witness.

Last night was another example that you can’t ever count this team out, or leave early for that matter. The Predators notch another key win over a Western Conference foe that’s battling for a wildcard spot like they are.

How it unfolded

The opening period of the game saw a slow start for both the Predators and the Flames in a critical game for the wildcard race. 

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Both Juuse Saros and David Rittich were locked in early on for the respective teams. Colton Sissons would eventually cash in first for the Predators in the final minutes of the first period.

Sissons is up to nine goals on the season now, with Colin Blackwell and Jarred Tinordi getting the assists.

Calgary answered back on the Predators in the next period, scoring twice and changing the entire complexion of the game in quick fashion.

Now here comes the fun action. Rittich was holding strong in net for the Flames, despite the Predators managing 17 shots on goal in the 2nd period, and an additional 11 shots on goal Rittich in the final period.

Roman Josi would get the game tied back up to break his goal drought that had extended all the way back to just before Christmas. He’s been piling up the assists during that time, but it was great to see him get a goal again.

Craziness ensues

The Predators would toy with our hearts again by letting up another last-minute regulation goal to the Flames, just like Halloween night.

Calgary would reclaim the lead and go up 4-3 with less than a minutes left on the clock. Hope was pretty much gone that the Predators would tie it back up again.

Then the Granlund takeover began. First off, credit is due to all of the Nashville skaters on the ice when they scored this wild goal. They dug in deep, crashed the front of the net and Granlund found the opening at literally the last possible moment.

Take a look at the goal from courtesy of NHL.com and Fox Sports Tennessee:

Before overtime started the refs had to ensure it was a good goal, and they did indeed confirm it to send it to extra time once again between these two teams.

The madness of course wasn’t over from Granlund. To complete the extraordinary comeback, Granlund would take matters into his own hands.

This goal might be even more spectacular than the game-tying goal. He took it from Calgary’s zone, skated into the slot and stayed with the puck to snap it past Rittich.

What a crazy turn of events we saw at the end of this game. The Predators were as close as you can possibly get to losing two points on the Flames, a team they’re in direct competition with for a playoff spot, and instead came out ahead.

Granlund as erupted into the most prolific scorer on the team since John Hynes took over. If he keeps this trend going, the Predators suddenly have a new offensive weapon to push forward with when they hopefully make the playoffs.

Looking at the next few games for the Predators they have the Colorado Avalanche up next on Saturday night, and then turn around and take on the Edmonton Oilers to wrap up their five-game homestand.

The Predators are 3-0 on the current homestand and have a four-game point streak going as well. A tough string of games lies ahead on the schedule as the Predators try to stabilize their position in the playoff race.

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