Steven Stamkos scored 44 seconds into overtime, and the Nashville Predators rallied for a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opener of the 2025 NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday.
Stamkos received a pass from Brady Skjei in the neutral zone and skated down the right side before ripping a snap shot from the circle that beat Arturs Silovs under the bar over his right shoulder.
Filip Forsberg also scored for the Predators, who ended a five-game losing streak. Juuse Saros made 16 saves.
Evgeni Malkin scored, and Silovs made 28 saves for the Penguins, who have lost five of their past six games (1-3-2).
With Saros pulled for the extra attacker, Forsberg tied it 1-1 at 18:50 of the third period when he collected a loose puck in front and lifted a backhand over Silovs’ right shoulder.
It was an even first period in which each side put up eight shots on goal. Then Nashville put the pressure on in the second as it looked to break the scoreless tie, skating to an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal by the midway mark of the frame.
Silovs had to be sharp, stretching to deny Justin Barron on a breakaway out of the penalty box six and a half minutes into the period. A few minutes later, Forsberg fed Ryan O’Reilly in front, but Silovs got it with the tip of his right pad.
But it was Pittsburgh who got on the board first on a fortunate bounce, on its second shot on goal of the second period.
Matt Dumba jumped up along the right wall to win a race to the puck against Michael Bunting and rimmed it around the boards for an uncovered Malkin behind the net. Malkin eyed a pass out front but the puck deflected off the stick of Predators forward Michael McCarron, redirecting it off Saros’ left shoulder and into the net for a 1-0 lead at 13:49.
