Granlund beats buzzer, scores in OT as Preds beat Flames 4-3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Nashville Predators gambled that keeping Mikael Granlund instead of trading the pending free agent at the deadline could help them play their way into the postseason. Granlund certainly delivered Thursday night. He became only the fourth player in NHL history HOW TO COOK SALMON CURRY score a game-tying goal in the final 10 seconds of regulation and then score the game-winner in overtime as the Predators beat Calgary 4-3 in a playoff-type showdown between the Western Conference’s two wild-card teams.

Granlund tied it up with 0.1 second left in regulation, then won the game 1:20 into overtime. “Granny, he was Captain Clutch tonight,” Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis said. Granlund said it was quite the ending. “The biggest thing is that we got those two points and we found a way somehow,” Granlund said. “It was a big two points. We tied it up, then they get the third goal right at the end and then we tie it up again. That´s hockey sometimes. Entertaining for sure.” Nashville Predators’ Ryan Ellis (4), Ryan Johansen (92), and Roman Josi (59), of Switzerland, celebrate with Mikael Granlund (64), of Finland, after Granlund scored the game-tying goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Thursday, Feb.

27, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Roman Josi and Colton Sissons also had a goal apiece, with Ellis having three assists. Nashville won its third straight and improved to 6-1-1 over its last eight games. Mikael Backlund had a goal and two assists, and Andrew Mangiapane and Rasmus Andersson each scored as Calgary had its two-game winning streak halted. Flames interim coach Geoff Ward called the loss unfortunate even as Calgary got a point to stay a spot ahead of Nashville.

“You got 42 seconds left right, and you got the lead,” Ward said. “They came back with a good push. Obviously, they’re playing for their lives right now, too. They’re the same as us. They’re fighting for those last two spots.” The Predators hadn’t been among the top eight teams in the West since Nov. 13, until Tuesday night after beating Ottawa, and even then they needed a loss by Arizona to give them the edge for the second wild card.

By taking the season series 2-1, Nashville holds onto the second spot, a point behind the Flames with two games still in hand. Nashville trailed 2-1 when Josi scored his 15th with 5:30 left from the left circle, squeezing the puck under goalie David Rittich’s right arm. Mangiapane put the Flames up 3-2 scoring with 42.9 seconds left for seemingly the winning goal. Nashville took its timeout immediately, and Granlund tied it up from in front with the puck crossing the line just before the buzzer.