National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Nashville 2, Buffalo 1
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 22, 2015
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Brad Meier, T.J. Luxmore
Linesmen: Scott Cherrey, Mark Shewchyk
Attendance: 19070

Predators 2, Sabres 1 (SO): Rookie Filip Forsberg scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout as visiting Nashville averted its first three-game losing streak of the season.

Mike Ribeiro netted the tying goal with 4:17 left in the third period for the NHL-leading Predators, who never held a lead during their 1-1-1 road trip. Recently acquired Mike Santorelli also converted in the bonus format while Carter Hutton made 10 of his 16 saves over the final 25 minutes of play.

Tyler Ennis scored the lone goal in regulation and the only tally in the shootout for Buffalo, which absorbed its 21st defeat in 24 games (3-19-2). Michal Neuvirth was superb in net, turning aside 37 shots as he was less than 4 1/2 minutes away from his first shutout since March 2012.

The Sabres went nearly 11 1/2 minutes before recording their first shot on goal and more than nine before their initial shot of the second period, but they forged ahead on Ennis' tally with 13.9 seconds left in the session. Matt Moulson sprung Zemgus Girgensons down the left side and he delivered a behind-the-back pass to Ennis, who pulled the puck around Hutton for an easy conversion on Buffalo's seventh shot.

Nashville had a 26-7 advantage in shots and failed on its first five power-play chances against the league's worst penalty kill through the first two periods. Hutton denied Buffalo captain Brian Gionta on a breakaway with just over seven minutes remaining to keep it a one-goal game, and the Predators finally broke through on their sixth power play as Ribeiro tapped in the rebound of defenseman Cody Franson's blast into an open net.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ennis took over the team goal-scoring lead from Girgensons with his 15th tally. ... Franson collected his first point in his second game with the Predators since being acquired along with Santorelli in a trade with Toronto. ... Sabres D Josh Gorges will undergo season-ending surgery for an undisclosed lower-body injury while D Mike Weber (upper body) is expected to miss two weeks. With Nikita Zadorov sitting out the game due to disciplinary reasons, Buffalo recalled fellow Ds Jake McCabe and Mark Pysyk from Rochester of the American Hockey League.
Top Game Performances
 
Nashville   Buffalo
Mike Ribeiro 1 Points Tyler Ennis 1
Mike Ribeiro 1 Goals Tyler Ennis 1
Cody Franson 1 Assists Zemgus Girgensons 1
Mike Ribeiro 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Carter Hutton .941 Save Percentage Michal Neuvirth .974
Carter Hutton 16 Saves Michal Neuvirth 37
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Nashville 38 2 1-8 3-3 10 25
Buffalo 17 1 0-3 7-8 20 36
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Columbus. The Sabres have a W/L % of .412 after a win and .233 after a loss.
  • Nashville will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Predators have a W/L % of .564 after a win and .857 after a loss.