The Nashville Predators took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of seven series against the Chicago Blackhawks with a 3-2 come from behind victory from the stick of Kevin Fiala, 16:44 into OT.
The Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period. Their first goals and lead of the series.
Dennis Rasmussen solved Pekka Rinne (34 saves) with a stuff shot in front of the net from a pass from Marcus Kruger. Later in the period, Patrick Kane scored his first of the playoffs on the power play to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
Then, in the 3rd, a Viktor Arvidsson shot took a weird bounce off the glass behind Corey Crawford, (46 saves), and dropped in front of the net where Filip Forsberg tapped it in to cut the lead to 2-1. Then, a controversial goaltender interference, which was later called a good goal, tied the game at 2 with just under 6 minutes left in regulation when Forsberg again scored after Arvidsson brushed Crawford while trying to make a save.
In the overtime, the Predators had the better end of play as the Blackhawks started to look slow and tired. It cost them when an arrant drop pass from Marian Hossa was picked up by Nashville and led to the winning goal by Fiala who patiently waited till he had Crawford alone and down, and stuffed it into the back of the net.
The Blackhawks again were horrible at the faceoff dot winning just 42% of the draws. Marcus Kruger and Artem Anisimov combined for just 9 wins while losing 29. A horrible 24%.
The Predators look to close the series out Thursday night in Nashville.
Photos provided by NHL.com
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