How The Predators Became The Team No One Wants To Face

“Being down 3-0, I think it’s easy as a team to go, ‘It’s probably not our game, it was bound to happen,’” Josi said. “But we just stuck with it, and it shows a lot of character that we’re like, ‘Hey, we can come back in this game, we’re not done, we’ve got to stick to our game.’ Even after we’re down 4-1 going into the third, we knew if we played the way we have been we’d have a chance to come back. And obviously, the ending was pretty good.

“…There’s a lot of belief. There’s a lot of confidence in this room. There’s a lot of trust in our game. … We’re not going to have it every night, but I think we showed, especially in the last couple of games, there’s times where we maybe didn’t have it as much but we found a way to get it back.”

Oh, and apparently the Predators are near invincible in the third period now too.

During their 18-game point streak, they lead the NHL with 37 goals and they’ve surrendered the third-fewest goals (12) in the third period, and they are the only team without a loss when trailing after two periods, which has happened just once.

“We’ve built a reputation on our third periods here lately,” Forsberg said. “Most of them have been kind of pulling away when we have the lead going in or tying it up or whatever, going quick. This one was a little tougher of a challenge going into it, but the boys answered the bell.”

Added head coach Andrew Brunette: “This was a great opportunity for our group to grow a little bit going into the third period, because there are going to be times when you’re down. Let’s see if we can just chip away at it without losing our identity, without getting away from what makes us successful. And I thought the group responded incredibly.”

The ovation from the crowd once Josi’s game-winner crossed the line and the goal horn sounded gave off 2017 vibes. Though COVID played a small role, it had been a long time since Bridgestone Arena was as loud as it was on Tuesday night.

“That’s what you play for,” Josi said. “We scored one and they got loud, and we scored another one and they got louder. And then obviously we tied it up and I think everybody was standing the rest of the game. And as a player, you need to soak these moments in because they’re fun and they’re awesome.”

Despite a below-.500 home record a little over a month ago, the Predators are 7-0-1 in their last eight home games, and they went from having a bottom-five record in the NHL in their home barn to being one of 14 teams with 21 or more home wins.

“It’s an electric place to play,” Brunette added. “As an opposing player and being on the home side, when it gets going like that, especially in the third period, it’s a pretty special place.”