Predators 3, Coyotes 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period, then gave their fans a rare overtime win.
Defenseman Roman Josi potted the skate-off goal at 20 seconds of overtime, enabling Nashville to dump the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 at Bridgestone Arena.
Josi skated around a defender and beat goalie Mike Smith with a forehand from point-blank range for his 14th goal and 61st point, adding to his franchise record for most points by a defenseman in a single season. It improved the Predators to 2-12 in games decided in overtime.
It was the second straight win for the Predators (41-26-14), which are locked into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference and will play the Pacific Division winner -- either Anaheim or Los Angeles -- in the first round next week.
Nashville forced overtime when left winger Filip Forsberg deflected a wrister from defenseman Roman Josi at 19:41 of the third period for his 33rd goal, tying the team's single-season record previously set by Jason Arnott.
The Coyotes (35-38-8) scored on their first shot on net at 6:26 of the first period, center Antoine Vermette redirecting a slapper from defenseman Zbynek Michalek past goalie Pekka Rinne for his 17th marker of the season.
Right winger Shane Doan made it 2-0 at 9:42 of the second period with a classic one-timer from the left faceoff dot off a nice cross-ice pass from right winger Brad Richardson. It was Doan's 28th goal of the season and the 396th of his career.
Defenseman Shea Weber put the Predators on the board with his 20th goal at 7:26 of the third period on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle, 13 seconds into a power play. With defenseman Connor Murphy off for elbowing, Craig Smith fed Weber for his 14th man-advantage marker, tying a franchise record.
Rinne made 16 saves for the Predators, which are locked into the Western Conference's first wild-card slot. Arizona goalie Mike Smith came up with 28 saves on 31 shots, including two on Forsberg on a breakaway late in the second period.
NOTES: Arizona LW Eric Selleck (upper body) skated at practice on Wednesday but didn't play Thursday night. ... Nashville D Anthony Bitetto (lower body) returned to the lineup after missing the last nine games with a lower-body injury. ... The Coyotes scratched D Nicklas Grossmann, RW Viktor Tikhonov and LW Sergei Plotnikov. Predators scratches were D Barret Jackman, LWs Eric Nystrom and Austin Watson and RW Miikka Salomaki.