Koivunen scores in OT, caps Penguins comeback against Predators
Gets winner at 3:44 after Rakell ties it with 1:06 remaining in third
By Wes Crosby
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
PITTSBURGH -- Ville Koivunen scored 3:44 into overtime, and the Pittsburgh Penguins won 3-2 against the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.
Koivunen briefly lost control of the puck before regaining it and skating to the high slot for a snap shot.
"Of course, it feels good," Koivunen said. "That's how it feels every time (to get the win), so it feels very good. ... A few good chances, you're probably going to score at some point. So, I think just try to keep going and create some more chances."
Rickard Rakell scored a tying goal late in the third period, Connor Dewar also scored, and Arturs Silovs made 24 saves for the Penguins (5-6-1), who have won two in a row following four straight losses.
"People can be on their own page or you can come together," Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. "We needed to play a better brand of hockey. We still have things to clean up, but I think these last two games have been a step in the right direction."
Juuse Saros made 34 saves, and Steven Stamkos and Jayden Struble scored for the Predators (3-3-4), who have lost five of six (1-2-3).
"I thought we put ourselves in position," Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. "Got a little sloppy in the second. We've got some things to clean up. It's unfortunate that we couldn't close the deal for (Saros). I thought he made some unbelievable saves."
Rakell tied it 2-2 at 18:54 of the third with Silovs pulled for the extra attacker, scoring on a one-timer off a cross-ice pass from Sidney Crosby for his second goal in three games after a nine-game drought to start the season.
"It felt so good," Rakell said. "The amount of looks that I had, first off, in this game, my teammates setting me up for all these chances, yeah, definitely feels good to put one in. Felt like that gave us a lot of momentum going into overtime."
With the assist, Crosby tied Ray Bourque (1,111 with the Boston Bruins) for the most assists for a single NHL franchise.
Stamkos put Nashville ahead 1-0 at 9:24 of the first period. Stamkos, battling Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang just above the crease, had a pass from Matthew Wood bounce off his skate and past Silovs for his fifth goal this season.
Dewar tied the score 1-1 18 seconds into the second period. Elmer Soderblom sent a pass from behind the net off the stick of Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly and to Dewar in the right face-off circle for a wrist shot.
Struble put Nashville back in front 2-1 at 6:40 with his first goal since being acquired in a trade from the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 9. Nils Hoglander intercepted a pass from Pittsburgh defenseman Spencer Stastney along the end boards and passed out front to Struble for a snap shot from the right circle.
"I thought we, honestly, didn't play that great," Struble said. "I think, obviously, (Saros) kept us in it that whole time. He played unbelievable. It stings that you couldn't get it for him."
Jack Drury nearly scored for the Predators when he dove at a loose puck, but it crossed the goal line just after the clock expired to end the second.
"We had our looks to kind of break away and make it a 3-1 game," Brunette said. "Just didn't capitalize on them. Then, overtime, at times it turns into a coin toss. We lost it tonight."
NOTES: Stamkos has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 10 games. He is the first Predators player with at least 11 points in the first 10 games of a season since Roman Josi (11 points; three goals, eight assists) in 2021-22. ... Crosby was held without a shot on goal for a second straight game. He has two in his past four games and has not recorded one in seven straight periods since his last came at 4:03 of the second period in a 5-4 loss at the Utah Mammoth on Monday. ... Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, who is tied with Nicholas Robertson for the team lead with six goals, did not play because of an illness. … The Penguins are 8-0-2 against the Predators dating back to April 10, 2022. … Letang factored on a game-winning goal for the 147th time in his career, third most among active defensemen behind Brent Burns (160) and Erik Karlsson (154).
