Filip Forsberg’s OT winner helps Predators continue surge vs. Blackhawks

Filip Forsberg scored twice, including the game-winner 1:05 into overtime, to lift the surging Nashville Predators to a 3-2 victory over the host Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Nashville (33-28-9, 75 points) won its fourth straight game to strengthen its hold on the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

Forsberg finished with three points, adding an assist on Steven Stamkos' game-tying goal at 9:43 of the third period on a goal in front of the net moments after a Nashville power play expired.

Both clubs finished 0-for-3 on the man advantage. Back in the lineup after a two-game absence with an upper-body injury, Predators goaltender Juuse Saros was especially sharp in denying the Blackhawks on the power play late in the third, finishing with 26 saves.

Nick Lardis and Connor Bedard found the net for Chicago (26-31-13, 65 points), which has lost four of five with two defeats in that stretch coming in overtime. Spencer Knight stopped 30 shots in the losing effort.

After the teams played to a scoreless first period, Lardis netted the first goal at 4:34 of the second. Skating with Frank Nazar on the rush, he sent an attempted pass to his fellow forward that deflected off Nashville defender Nicolas Hague and into the net.

Forsberg scored the equalizer less than two minutes later. With the Blackhawks trying to clear the zone, Forsberg stripped the puck from defenseman Wyatt Kaiser and passed to Jonathan Marchessault, who fed a waiting Forsberg in the slot.

Forsberg later forced a turnover behind the net to produce the game-winning goal.

Chicago went ahead 2-1 at 13:57 of the second on a breakaway goal from Connor Bedard, who gathered a long pass from Ryan Greene on the right side before weaving toward the net and beating Saros with a move to his glove side.

Chicago skated with only five defensemen for most of the afternoon. Matt Grzelcyk left the game in the first period when he was hurt in a scrum in front of the Blackhawks net after a whistle. Grzelcyk needed to be helped off the ice.