Josi scores OT winner to lead Predators to 5-4 victory over Vegas, extends streak to 16-0-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Roman Josi scored 40 seconds into overtime to lead the Nashville Predators to a 5-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, and extend the team’s stretch of consecutive games unbeaten in regulation to a franchise-record 18.

Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist each had a goal and an assist and Mark Jankowski also scored for Nashville, which last lost a game in regulation on Feb. 15 and is 16-0-2 since.

Juuse Saros made 31 saves as the Predators overcame a 3-0 deficit.

“It was a fun game to be a part of,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “It probably aged you a little bit, but it was fun.”

William Karlsson scored a goal and assisted on another, Ivan Barbashev, Brett Howden and Shea Theodore also scored and Jiri Patera made 30 saves for Vegas, which had won three in a row. Anthony Mantha had two assists.

Josi skated in from the right side before slipping the puck past Patera for the winner.

Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski (17) celebrates his goal with defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

“Obviously, you don’t want to be down 3-0, but we stayed positive,” Josi said. “We’re at a point now where we can trust our game, that we have a chance to come back.”

The teams entered Tuesday in the Western Conference’s top two positions for the wild card.

The Knights took a 3-0 first-period lead. Barbashev scored the 100th goal of his career at 2:45 of the opening period, converting on a one-timer off of a two-on-one rush with Jack Eichel for a 1-0 lead.

“The points are really important for us right now,” Barbashev said. “We got one of them tonight. We’ve just got to keep going forward trying to forget about this night.”

Howden followed at 5:08, collecting a loose puck in the slot and firing a wrist shot just under the crossbar. Theodore made it 3-0 with 3:17 remaining in the first with a wrist shot from the high slot.

Jankowski scored with 5:27 remaining in the second, but Karlsson restored Vegas’ three-goal lead with 56.7 left in the period.

O’Reilly cut the deficit to 2 at 5:52 of the third and Forsberg cut it to one with 7:43 remaining.

The goal was Forsberg’s 40th of the season, the second time in his career that he’s reached the 40-goal mark.

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vegas challenged the goal thinking Jason Zucker was offside on the play, but after a lengthy review, it was allowed to stand.

“Obviously, the challenge didn’t help us,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We have a video team that looks at it and they were pretty certain that it was offside. It looks like it has to be offside, almost by physics, but that’s not the way they saw it. Then you’ve got to go get a penalty kill and we didn’t do that either.”

Nyquist scored on the ensuing power play that Nashville was given due to Vegas’ lost challenge.

“That’s a great character win,” Nyquist said. “We never stop. This team never stops.”

UP NEXT

Golden Knights: Visit Winnipeg Thursday night.

Predators: Visit Arizona Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) passes the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) skates the puck past Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Jiri Patera (30) deflects a shot on goal by Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Jiri Patera (30) deflects a shot on goal by Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) celebrates his game winning goal at the end of overtime in an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 5-4. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) celebrates his game winning goal at the end of overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 5-4. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin scored on the power play during a five-goal, third-period outburst and the Colorado Avalanche rallied for a 6-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 on Friday night.

Alexandar Georgiev stopped 22 shots to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series. Game 4 is Sunday in the Mile High City.

Trailing 2-1 in the final period, Colorado, the highest-scoring team in the league, began pouring it on. The Avalanche scored four times in a 10:24 span to energize the crowd and stun the Jets.

“We didn’t sit back on our heels and I think we kind of just took it to them,” Ross Colton explained. “When we play with that speed, we play with that energy, we’re a good team. ... Credit to the guys in the room for just sticking with the process and putting ourselves in a good situation.”

MacKinnon sparked the scoring run with the tying goal and Nichushkin knocked in the go-ahead tally with 15:21 remaining. Nichushkin's goal came after Jets center Gabriel Vilardi was given a double-minor for hitting Devon Toews in the face with his stick and drawing blood. Toews left the ice with a towel held to his face.

Artturi Lehkonen and and Colton added goals to make it 5-2. Toews, returning from a bloodied face, scored an empty-netter with 3:35 remaining to seal the win.

Casey Mittelstadt finished with three assists.

It was a third period where everything went wrong for the Jets, who were whistled for four penalties by the halfway mark (and a few more late for roughing and fighting with the game out of reach). Until then, the game was going their way, with Tyler Toffoli and Josh Morrissey scoring in the second period to make it 2-1.

“We’ve got to stop looking for that extra play and just do what they (Avalanche) do — throw it at the net,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said. “Clearly the discipline in the third period and the penalty kill just took us out of the game."

Vezina Trophy-favorite Connor Hellebuyck continues to struggle in net and has now given up 15 goals in the series. He stopped 34 shots.

When horn sounded to end the game several players began to square off. Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon quickly made his way to the locker room with his hand bleeding. The Jets had no update or if the injury happened because of a skate blade.

“Obviously, a scary situation there,” Morrissey said. “We’re all really concerned for him. We’re just hoping everything is OK.”

Colorado scored the first goal when Zach Parise knocked in a rebound midway through the opening period. It was the first time in the series the team that scored first has won.

With goals in two straight games, Parise is the first player 39 or older to score in back-to-back games since Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson during the 2013 conference semifinals, according to NHL Stats.

Georgiev has rediscovered his confidence. He gave up seven goals in Game 1, leading to speculation he might be replaced by backup Justus Annunen before Annunen was ruled out for Game 2 due to an illness. Georgiev allowed two goals in a Game 2 win and was dependable again Friday.

Georgiev was serenaded throughout the night with chants of “Geor-gie, ”Geor-gie.”

“Unbelievable,” he said of the crowd calling his name. “I feel the guys did such a good job for me today, just made my job so much easier. I feel they deserve more chants, for sure. I appreciate it a lot. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Both teams made changes to their defense. The Jets inserted veteran Nate Schmidt into the lineup over Logan Stanley, while the Avalanche saw the return of Samuel Girard, who's been in concussion protocol. Girard had an assist in his return.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry, left, and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon dig for the puck during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, left, stops a shot from Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, right, tries to control the puck next to Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck makes a glove save against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey heads to the team box after celebrating with teammates following his goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter, back, looks to pass the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon defends during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, left, stops a wraparound shot by Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan during the first period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter, left, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, center, and Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey watch during the second period of Game 3 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)