Roman Josi didn’t need overtime to make history - or to seal a massive win for the Predators.
With just 1:14 left in regulation, Nashville’s captain delivered the dagger, scoring the game-winner in a 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. It was a fitting exclamation point on a gritty road trip that saw the Preds take four of a possible six points - and it came with a milestone moment for Josi himself.
The goal was the 200th of Josi’s career, making him just the 24th defenseman in NHL history to hit that mark. He joins an elite group of blueliners, and he did it in style - skating into the zone during a 4-on-4, curling back to create space, and then ripping a perfectly placed shot past Ilya Sorokin. Vintage Josi: patience, poise, precision.
“It was an unbelievable effort,” rookie forward Matthew Wood said afterward. “He’s a really special player, a really special person, and it’s a lot of fun to learn from him on and off the ice.”
Wood had every reason to be in awe - not just of Josi’s game-winner, but also because he played a key role in getting the Preds back into this one. After the Islanders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening minutes, Nashville didn’t flinch. They’ve made a habit of comebacks this season - this was their 16th, second-most in the NHL - and Saturday night was another showcase of that resilience.
Filip Forsberg got things started, needing just six seconds on a power play to blast home his 21st of the season. Then it was Wood’s turn. The rookie snapped a one-timer off a slick feed from Jonathan Marchessault to even the score - his first goal since early December.
“That was great,” Josi said of Wood’s tally. “He’s been so good for us.
You can just see the skill, the shot - he’s going to be an unbelievable player for a long time. It’s not easy in your first year in the NHL, but he’s doing an amazing job.”
The Islanders briefly reclaimed the lead in the second, but Nashville kept pushing. Wood returned the favor to Forsberg with a crisp cross-crease pass, and Forsberg buried his second of the night to knot the game at 3-3 heading into the third.
From there, it was all about execution - and experience. Josi’s late-game heroics not only secured the win, but also added another chapter to what’s becoming a remarkable season for the veteran defenseman.
He now has 11 seasons with at least 10 goals, joining Brent Burns as the only active defensemen to hit that mark. And with 38 career game-winners, he’s now tied with Erik Karlsson and Brian Leetch for 10th-most among defensemen in NHL history.
Head coach Andrew Brunette praised the team’s response after a shaky start.
“I loved our game besides the first part of the first period,” Brunette said. “We were taking on quite a bit of water there…and it felt like the roof of the building was going to blow off.
Then we settled in. And then I thought we controlled the game from then on out.”
That ability to reset and rally has become a defining trait of this Predators squad. Whether it’s the leadership in the locker room or the buy-in from the younger players, Nashville has found a formula that works - and they’re leaning into it.
“I think it speaks volumes of the leadership of the team, but also the will and the compete and the never-give-up kind of attitude,” Brunette said. “They’ve completely bought in, and they don’t give up. They show up every night.”
Forsberg’s two-goal night was also one for the record books. It marked his 51st career multi-goal game, putting him just one behind Markus Naslund for fifth-most among Swedish-born NHL players. Mats Sundin tops that list with 81, but Forsberg continues to climb.
As for the lineup, defenseman Nick Blankenburg missed the game due to illness, and Andreas Englund stepped in to skate alongside Justin Barron.
Now, with the road trip in the rearview, the Preds return to Bridgestone Arena for two home games before heading to Washington to close out their schedule ahead of the Olympic break. It’s a crucial stretch - and the team knows it.
“Three big games,” Josi said. “You want to put yourself in a really good position before the Olympic break.
We talked about winning the week - we did that - and now there’s another week coming with some good teams. We need points.”
Brunette echoed the sentiment: “This one got a little dicey early in the game…but we ended up winning the week. That’s big.
Now we’ve got to turn the page and move on. It’s a really big week for us.”
If Saturday night was any indication, this team isn’t just surviving tough moments - they’re starting to thrive in them.