Predators 4, Senators 3 (SO)
OTTAWA -- James Neal completed his big night by scoring the decisive goal in the shootout as the Nashville Predators defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3 on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Center.
Neal also scored two power play goals in regulation as the Predators improved to 4-1-0. His winner was off a shot that beat Senators goalie Craig Anderson on the stick side.
The Predators looked to be on their way to victory in regulation until Senators winger Mike Hoffman scored his second goal of the night with a blast from the point just 3:32 from the horn.
Senators winger Bobby Ryan, who had a couple of chances in overtime, was called for goalie interference with 39 seconds left in the three-on-three, but the Ottawa was able to survive the scare.
Neal scored his second of two power play goals at 11:36 of the third period to put the Predators in front, and it looked a lot like the first as he took a pass at the side of the net from defenseman Roman Josi and stepped out to beat Anderson.
Winger Craig Smith had the other Nashville goal. Winger Mark Stone also scored for the Senators.
Nashville goalie Carter Hutton stopped 38 shots before the shootout and Anderson finished with 22 saves.
Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis was helped off the ice with 7:43 to go in the third period after being hit in the right knee by a shot from the point.
The teams were tied 2-2 after two periods, with Ottawa (3-2-1) holding a 26-16 edge in shots.
The Senators came within 2:03 of heading to the intermission with a lead, but a turnover at the defensive blue line saw center Mike Ribeiro send a quick pass into the slot for Smith, who wasted no time beating Anderson high to the stick side.
The Senators overcame a 1-0 deficit on goals by Stone and Hoffman earlier in the second period. Stone struck 15 seconds into the period after taking a pass from center Kyle Turris at the front of the net, making a swift move from forehand to backhand and flipping the puck past Hutton.
Hoffman put Ottawa on the scoreboard in the 12th minute by taking a slap shot from just inside the blue line that deflected off the stick of Ellis and dipped under Hutton's glove.
Neal scored the only goal of the first period on the power play, with Senators defensemen Jared Cowen in the box. After taking a pass from Josi, Neal stepped out from the side of the net and fired a shot to the far side.
Hutton made two big stops off Senators winger Curtis Lazar from close range in the final five seconds of the period.
NOTES: Senators D Marc Methot was a late scratch because of the flu. He was replaced by D Chris Wideman, who was making his NHL debut. Wideman won the Eddie Shore Award last season as the American Hockey League's most outstanding defensemen. ... Predators G Carter Hutton made his first start of the season, allowing G Pekka Rinne to take a breather. Hutton, who had a 6-7-4 record last season, lost his last three games in 2014-15. ... Senators LW Clarke MacArthur missed his second game because of a head injury. Coach Dave Cameron said he does not know how long MacArthur will be out. "I'm not putting any time on it," Cameron said. ... Predators scratches were LW Viktor Arvidsson, D Anthony Bitetto and D Victor Bartley.