Forsberg Makes Sure Predators Don't Collapse Again vs. Stars
Filip Forsberg became the third period hero the Predators needed to get this one into the win column. You can't get much more clutch than what he did in the final frame to push the Predators to the 4-3 win.
Forsberg's first goal which broke the 2-2 tied was due to forechecking pressure while Dallas was trying to escape the zone into transition. Alexandre Carrier forces the giveaway, Ryan O'Reilly gets it to Gus Nyquist, and Nyquist finds the open Forsberg.
Best part about this play is Forsberg's skating without the puck, finding a soft spot in the zone and then showing his patience and puck handling to beat Wedgewood with the crafty backhand.
Nobody tell Filip Forsberg that he's already an All-Star I want to see him keep doing this pic.twitter.com/XxBu43qPH1
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 7, 2024
With the game still in doubt, Forsberg restored the two-goal lead for the Predators with just a beautiful wraparound goal that completely fools Wedgewood. Worthy of a video game, Forsberg pulls off the aggressive move behind the net and stuns the Dallas defense.
Forsberg now has 21 goals on the season and six mult-goal games. He's also reached the 20-goal mark for the 8th time of his NHL career, which puts him in elite company among Swedish born players in NHL history.
Filip Forsberg helped the @PredsNHL stave off a Dallas comeback and did so thanks to his 20th and 21st goals of the season.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 7, 2024
Read more #NHLStats about the first 32 players named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend: https://t.co/rbZZjjn5TK pic.twitter.com/WzjmqwE5c3
Forsberg was just named to his 2nd All-Star game this past week. He's very close to cracking the top-10 in the NHL in goals for the season and is tied with William Nylander and Travis Konecny.
After only playing in 50 games last season due to a concussion in February, Forsberg has already surpassed his point total from 2022-23 and is on pace to break his career high of 84 points set in 2021-22.
Other notes from Preds vs. Stars
Nyquist had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to eight games. He's up to 10 goals and 32 points on the season.
Luke Evangelista scored his 7th goal of the season and now has goals in three of his last four games. He has matched his goal total from 2022-23 and is tied for 6th among rookies in points with 19.
Up next during this difficult stretch in January the Predators will take on the Anaheim Ducks at home on Tuesday.