DETROIT, Michigan -- Ryan Suter scored just 16 seconds into overtime on Saturday, giving the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings after Pavel Datsyuk had scored late for Detroit to force the extra period.
Two Detroit defenders moved to pressure Joel Ward after he led the Predators into the Wings' zone. Ward sent the puck to Suter in the right faceoff circle, where he snapped a shot past Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard for the win.
Datsyuk had one-timed a pass from Tomas Holmstrom past Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne with 37 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, 3-3.
Detroit's Brian Rafalski opened the game's scoring with a power play goal with 1:45 left in the first period.
From the seat of his pants, Datsyuk passed the puck down to Holmstrom, who sent it from the side of the goal to Johan Franzen in the crease. Franzen moved it to Rafalski in the left circle and continued to the front of the net, with Rafalski snapping a shot past Rinne through Franzen's screen.
The Predators responded early in the second with two goals to take the lead.
Shea Weber blasted a shot past Howard 1:36 into the period, taking advantage of the Red Wings' failure to freeze the puck with two injured players on the ice.
Martin Erat evaded heavy defensive coverage to snap a shot past Howard 4:25 later.
Nicklas Lidstrom tied the game back up with 3:59 left in the second but J.P. Dumont put the Predators back in front with 43 seconds left in the period.
The Red Wings' first goal was the lone power play tally of the game. Detroit had three chances with the extra attacker while Nashville at two.
Rinne stopped 28 of 31 Detroit shots. Howard made 20 saves on 24 Nashville chances.
The Red Wings are now two points behind the Predators in the Western Conference standings but have two games in hand. One of those games will be Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Notes: Detroit was without Danny Cleary for the third consecutive game. Derek Meech filled in at forward in his absence.
It's a beautiful day outside but in the NHL's marketing brilliance we've got a game with huge playoff implications being played inside this afternoon between the Red Wings and the Nashville Predators. Since my thoughts on matinée hockey are well-known, on to the important stuff...
Jimmy Howard gets his 137th consecutive start, with today's game the last in his run. Chris Osgood will get the start tomorrow against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Danny Cleary will not return from his groin injury today, hoping to get back into the lineup tomorrow. That leaves Derek Meech filling in on the fourth line.
The Red Wings have two games in hand on Nashville but are only one point back, so they can move into fifth place with a win but technically don't need it to still have a chance at passing the Predators. That said, the LA Kings are only a point back of Detroit and they play Anaheim tonight, so a Wings win keeps them ahead of the Kings no matter what happens in Southern California.
In the battle for the eighth spot, Colorado lost to Calgary last night, putting the two teams into a tie with the Avalanche having a game in hand.
I prefer April madness vice March...
Mother nature is trying to help raise ratings, it's getting nasty out there.
A little nasty weather never hurt anyone. The question is the weather outside worse than the storm that will be going on inside?
I was just getting ready to bitch about the power play and then the Wings go and pull that PPG out of their asses. Wow.
I thought the Wings came out strong for about one minute, then really got sloppy. The goal is all that really matters but they're tempting fate if they don't play better.
Why the f*ck didn't Jimmy freeze the puck when he had the chance?
Well, f*ck.
Well, f*ck.
yeah... sh*t happens. Jimmy should have froze the puck, with two players trying to shake of blocked shots, it was bound to happen.
About goddamned time.
About goddamned time.
Looks like the defense is today's scoring theme.
I don't even have anything to say about that third goal. When the Wings get it in their heads that they want to run around in circles, they're great at it.
Babs thinks we're playing well? What game has he been watching?
Holy living f*ck.
Holy living f*ck.
How many GTG/GWG's have we had in the last minute this year? Five? Six?
Overtime!!!!
f*ck me....
Well, the Wings went back to being f*cking stupid and leaving guys open.
Well, the Wings went back to being f*cking stupid and leaving guys open.
And the game is over in the blink of an eye...
Pavel Datsyuk
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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