National Hockey League
Pittsburgh 5, Nashville 4
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 19, 2024
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Brandon Schrader
Linesmen: Shandor Alphonso, Kilian McNamara
Attendance: 17159

Bryan Rust scored his second goal of the night 1:07 into overtime to cap a four-point night, Sidney Crosby had a goal with three assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the host Nashville Predators 5-4 on Thursday.

Rust, who opened the scoring for Pittsburgh, ended it when he snapped a wide-open shot past Nashville's Juuse Saros (15 saves) to give the Penguins their first lead and their eighth win in 11 games (8-2-1). Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh, which has played three straight overtime contests, winning twice.

Brady Skjei had a goal and an assist for Nashville, which has five points in four games following its 0-5-3 slide.

With game tied 3-3, Nashville went ahead when Ryan O'Reilly's 20-foot saucer pass got to Skjei, who snapped the puck past Pittsburgh netminder Tristan Jarry (22 saves) with 12:16 to go in regulation. However, Pittsburgh answered on Karlsson's slap shot with 8:24 left in regulation.

Nashville opened the scoring 3:51 into the contest. On the transition, Filip Forsberg slid the puck into the slot for Jonathan Marchessault to get by Jarry just 3:51 into the contest.

Pittsburgh didn't record its first shot on goal until Rust's with 6:47 left in the first. But with 3:39 left before the first intermission, Rust pushed in the puck after getting a slot pass from Rakell, who was set up by Crosby.

The Predators regained the lead with 2:03 to go in the first. On the power play, Luke Evangelista was in the right spot to put home a rebound.

Nashville made it 3-1 at 3:40 into the second. With Forsberg helping again, Steven Stamkos smoked a wrister by Jarry. However, the Penguins tied it with two goals within a two-minute span of the second period.

With 12:06 to go in the period, and on the power play, Crosby chipped in Karlsson's shot toward the net for his first goal since Nov. 23.

Just 1:14 later, off a Nashville turnover, Crosby sent the puck over to Rakell, who threw it at the net, where it fluttered past Saros.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Pittsburgh   Nashville
Bryan Rust 4 Points Brady Skjei 2
Bryan Rust 2 Goals Brady Skjei 1
Sidney Crosby 3 Assists Filip Forsberg 2
Sidney Crosby 1 Power Play Goals Luke Evangelista 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Tristan Jarry .846 Save Percentage Juuse Saros .750
Tristan Jarry 22 Saves Juuse Saros 15
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Pittsburgh 20 5 1-3 4-5 10 27
Nashville 26 4 1-5 2-3 6 23
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Predators have a W/L % of .222 after a win and .292 after a loss.
  • Pittsburgh will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Penguins have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .474 after a loss.