Russell scores in overtime as Flames beat Predators 2-1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Calgary Flames started their three-game road trip in a way that's been unusual for them this season.
They won.
Kris Russell scored 1:23 into overtime and Calgary beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory and first on the road since Nov. 13.
''This is a huge road trip for us, and we wanted to start on a good note,'' coach Bob Hartley said.
TJ Brodie also scored for the Flames, who improved to an NHL-best 8-1 in overtime. It was just their fourth win away from home this season and first since beating Washington 3-2 in overtime last month.
Cody Hodgson scored on his first career penalty shot for Nashville, which lost its second straight at home. The Predators dropped to 2-6 in overtime games, with both wins coming in shootouts back in October.
Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said the overtime games have ended the same way, with the Predators having chances to win and not converting.
''They didn't drop for us, and that's what happened in the previous games as well,'' Laviolette said. ''As soon as it doesn't happen, it turns around and goes back the other way.''
Karri Ramo stopped a shot from Nashville forward Filip Forsberg in the opening seconds of overtime, then Russell finished a 2-on-1 with a wrister past Pekka Rinne on an assist from Johnny Gaudreau for the defenseman's second goal this season.
Russell credited Ramo and Dougie Hamilton for getting the puck to Gaudreau.
''I was just going to the far post,'' Russell said. ''A guy like that, you just keep your stick on the ice and try to put it away, and I did. Johnny makes an incredible pass. When you have special players like that making plays, it's a lot of fun.''
Russell's goal gave Calgary its latest win over Nashville after sweeping the series last season.
Nashville managed to kill off four power plays, including 2 minutes of 5-on-3 in the second period. The Predators wrapped up a three-game homestand in disappointing fashion despite outshooting another opponent, this time 22-21. They are 7-9-3 when outshooting an opponent.
Hodgson put the Predators up 1-0 early. He had the puck on a short breakaway when hooked by Brodie, and Hodgson scored his third this season with a wrister that beat Ramo glove side at 5:09 of the first.
The Predators took 12 of the first 13 shots but couldn't beat Ramo again the rest of the period.
At 2:08 of the second, Predators forward Mike Ribeiro was called for hooking and James Neal for a shot to the head of Flames captain Mark Giordano. The Predators killed off the penalties, but officials reviewed a shot during a stoppage at 6:26 to see if the Flames had pushed a puck past Rinne. They ruled replays inconclusive on a shot Rinne stopped with his right pad at the post.
Brodie finally tied it with a snap shot from the slot that beat Rinne at 12:28. Rinne also stopped a backhander from Matt Stajan, then a follow attempt by Micheal Ferland late in the period.
Each team killed a penalty in the third, with the Flames failing to score after Nashville captain Shea Weber went to the box for cross-checking Calgary center Sam Bennett with 2:20 left in regulation.
NOTES: Calgary has won four straight over Nashville and five of the past six. Six of the last eight meetings have been decided by one goal. ... Hodgson's penalty-shot goal was Nashville's first since Eric Nystrom scored on Oct. 18, 2013, in a win over Minnesota. ... Brodie extended his career-high point streak to seven games.
