CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Tommy Novak scored the deciding goal in the shootout and the Nashville Predators beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Monday night to preserve their playoff hopes.
Zach Sanford and Egor Afanasyev also scored for the Predators, who have two home games remaining in the regular season — on Thursday against Minnesota and Friday against Colorado. Juuse Saros stopped 42 shots through overtime and three of four in the shootout.
Troy Stecher and Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames, and Jacob Markstrom finished with 27 saves.
Jonathan Huberdeaul scored on the first attempt of the shootout for the Flames. Cody Glass tied it in the third round for the Predators, and Novak won it in the fourth round.
Calgary’s 17 overtime and shootout losses is the most in the NHL.
Nashville led 1-0 after the opening period. Afanasyev scored the first NHL goal of his career at 5:49. Predators forward Mark Jankowski chased the puck behind Calgary’s net. The former Flames player fed the 22-year-old Afanasyev in the slot to sweep the puck in far side.
Stecher tied it at 7:41 of the second period within seconds of Calgary killing off a Huberdeau tripping minor. With Huberdeau providing a screen, the defenseman threaded a rising shot through traffic over Saros’ shoulder.
Sanford put the Predators ahead 2-1 at 4:02 of the third. Markstrom made an initial save on Glass, but dragged the puck into the crease with his right pad for Sanford to bang into the net.
Backlund tied it at 8:03 as he finished a tick-tack-toe passing play from Huberdeau and Andrew Mangiapane and threaded a shot under Saros’ right armpit.
SWEEPING
Nashville won all three meetings in the season series against Calgary.
UP NEXT
Predators: Host Minnesota on Thursday night.
Flames: Host San Jose on Wednesday night in the season finale.
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The Associated Press
