NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an exciting overtime matchup on Saturday, Nick Blankenburg netted the winning goal at 1:03 to lead the Nashville Predators to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Zachary L’Heureux and Jonathan Marchessault also contributed goals for the Predators, while Justus Annunen showcased his skills with 22 saves. This win added to the Predators’ recent success, marking their record at 2-0-1 over their last three games.

For the Kings, Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere each scored, and goalie Darcy Kuemper recorded 23 saves. The Kings have demonstrated resilience, managing a strong record of 8-1-2 in their past 11 games.

During overtime, Blankenburg scored his first goal for Nashville by capitalizing on a rebound from a shot taken by Filip Forsberg. Annunen, who joined the Predators in a trade with Colorado on November 30, improved his individual record with Nashville to 2-1-0 after three games.

L’Heureux opened the scoring for the game with just 5:44 left in the first period. Meanwhile, Roman Josi returned to Nashville’s lineup after a four-game absence due to a lower-body injury, and he played a crucial role by setting up Marchessault’s goal, who has now scored three times across his last three games.

Takeaways from the matchup indicate that the Kings, currently in the midst of a seven-game road trip, showcased their tenacity by tying the game after being two goals down. On the other hand, the Predators face challenges in overtime with a 2-7 record in such games this season.

A noteworthy moment occurred when Marchessault had a goal wiped away due to a hooking penalty at 8:31 of the second period, though he quickly rebounded to extend Nashville’s lead at 14:00. His performance has been impressive, boasting five goals along with three assists during a six-game streak of scoring points.

In terms of statistics, the Kings struggled on the power play, finishing 0 for 1 during the game. This continues a trend, as Los Angeles has gone scoreless on the power play in their last six games, with a total of 0 for 10 in that timeframe.

Looking ahead, the Kings will face off against the Washington Capitals on Sunday to conclude their seven-game road trip, while the Predators will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.