Haula scored a short-handed goal at 17:26 to make it 5-3, picking up a clean bounce of Jost\u2019s pass off the end boards and chipping the puck past Askarov.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jost\u2019s empty-net goal at 18:45 made it a 6-3 final.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcited. I mean, it’s the best time of year to play hockey,\u201d Brunette said. \u201cGet to go into another hard building and play a team we had just played two nights ago, and it’s the best time of year to play and we’re excited for that challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Forsberg put the Predators ahead 1-0 with a power-play goal at 8:38 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer from the high slot off a Jonathan Marchessault<\/a>\u00a0pass.<\/p>\n Forsberg quickly scored again at 9:54 after Matthew Wood\u2019s one-timer was stopped by Askarov, only to pop up in the air and land behind him for Forsberg to tap in.<\/p>\n \u201cI think just the resiliency that we’ve shown – obviously, we prefer not to give up a three-goal lead and have to fight back to win, but when we have to, we\u2019ve been able to do that a few times,\u201d Forsberg said. \u201cIt shows a lot of strength in the group.\u201d<\/p>\n Stamkos pushed the Predators lead to 3-0 with a power-play goal from the left circle at 16:55.<\/p>\n