In a tightly contested Eastern Time matchup, Nashville edged Ottawa in overtime after storming back late in the third period. The game — marked by momentum swings, key special-teams moments and a tense finish — shaped playoff positioning and left both clubs with lessons to carry forward.
Late comeback forces extra time
Ottawa entered the third period clinging to a narrow lead, thanks to a pair of earlier goals that showcased crisp passing and opportunistic finishing. Nashville, however, refused to fold. A power-play strike midway through the final frame narrowed the gap and ignited the crowd. Momentum fully shifted in the closing five minutes when the Predators won a series of battles in the offensive zone, leading to an equalizing goal with under three minutes remaining in regulation.
Both teams traded chances in the final minutes. Ottawa had a couple of high-danger looks in the waning seconds, but Nashville’s goaltender made sprawling saves to force overtime. The extra period continued the pattern of chances at both ends, setting the stage for the decisive sequence.
Decisive play, goaltending and special teams
The overtime winner came off a turnover in the neutral zone. Nashville’s transition play was swift: a hard breakout pass found a winger streaking down the right side, who slipped a quick feed to a forward cutting to the net. The shot beat the Ottawa goalie glove side to end the game, sending visiting fans into celebration.
Both goalies were threaded into the game’s narrative. Nashville’s netminder finished with a high-save total and one particularly timely pad stop in the third period that preserved the Predators’ window for a comeback. The Ottawa goaltender also faced a heavy workload and made several highlight-reel saves, though the late turnover and the overtime finish ultimately proved decisive.
Special teams played a pivotal role: Nashville converted on one of its power plays, which turned out to be the spark for the comeback, while Ottawa went 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Penalties in key moments shifted the flow and underscored the discipline both teams will need down the stretch.
Standings impact and what’s next
The result tightens the race in the conference standings. Nashville’s win moves them up a notch as they chase higher positioning for the playoff push, while Ottawa’s loss narrows their margin for error in a crowded field. Coaches from both sides emphasized quick turnaround and focusing on fundamentals when addressing the media following the game.
Looking ahead, both clubs will regroup with a short slate of upcoming games that provide immediate opportunities for adjustments. Ottawa will aim to correct turnovers and sharpen its penalty kill, while Nashville will look to build on its late-game resiliency and fine-tune its transition game that proved decisive tonight.
From here, the season slips into a stretch where every point matters; a single turnover or an extra special-teams chance can swing the balance. This ottawa vs nashville meeting delivered that kind of thin-margin drama — and suggested both teams still have plenty to play for.
