Predators stay in playoff hunt with OT win
Andrew Hutchinson scored a power-play goal 3:50 into overtime, and the Predators beat the Rangers 2-1 for their fifth victory in six games in their chase for the 6-year-old franchise’s first playoff berth.
The Predators started this season with a league-low, $23-million payroll compared to $77 million for the Rangers, and Nashville coach Barry Trotz said earlier this season that beating New York would have been more a matter of earning respect.
“Now it’s all about getting two points,” he said of a victory that moved them closer to a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
New York came into the game 12th in the Eastern Conference and dropped its fourth in six games, losing most of their momentum from their 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders in interim coach Tom Renney’s debut.
Matthew Barnaby tied it at 1 in the third period for the Rangers.
But even though they swept the season series from the Islanders 6-0, the Rangers are 0-3-1-2 in games immediately after playing their biggest rivals. New York has not won two straight since Dec. 29-30.
Nashville, which outshot New York 43-26, finally got the advantage it needed in overtime when Alex Kovalev was penalized with a double minor for high-sticking Steve Sullivan and drawing blood from his nose at 1:02 of the extra period.
“I was trying to lift his stick, and I hit him in the face,” Kovalev said. “I missed his stick.”
New York didn’t record a single shot in overtime, and Nashville finally got the puck past backup goalie Jussi Markkanen when Hutchinson scored his third on a one-timer from the top of the left circle off a pass from Kimmo Timonen.
It was the first overtime goal for Hutchinson, recalled from Milwaukee of the AHL on Wednesday after defenseman Jason York fractured a cheekbone in practice.
“To win the game for your team, it’s amazing,” said Hutchinson, who had an Admirals bag at his feet in the locker room.
Sullivan also had an assist, his 12th point in six games since being acquired from Chicago on Feb. 16.
Nashville had been shut out on its first nine power-play chances before Hutchinson’s goal gave the Predators 10 man-advantage goals in six games. Andreas Johansson scored an unassisted goal in the second period.