STOCKHOLM — Steven Stamkos scored 44 seconds into overtime to rally the team. Nashville Predators to victory over Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday in the opening game of the NHL Global Series in the Swedish capital.
Stamkos' fourth goal of the season helped the Predators snap a five-game skid.
Nashville brought in goaltender Juuse Saros as an extra attacker, and Swedish star Filip Forsberg thrilled a packed Avici Arena by tying the game 1-all with 1:10 left in the third period, beating Pittsburgh goaltender Artur Silovs with a high backhand to force overtime.
The Predators arrived in Europe hoping the trip would help them turn the tide of their season. Nashville beat the Penguins 30-17 to improve to 6-9-4.
Saros made 16 saves, and defenseman Brady Skei assisted on the winning goal.
Evgeni Malkin broke the scoreless deadlock with 6:11 remaining in the middle period for the Penguins after the puck he sent from behind the net toward Saros ended up in the back of the net.
It was Malkin's fourth goal of the season and his team-best 22nd point. The goal was the 518th of his career, tied with Dale Hawerchuk for 40th on the NHL career list.
The Predators held the Penguins to two shots on goal in the period.
The game marked Malkin's return, along with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, to Stockholm, where the Penguins split the series against the Ottawa Senators in 2008 and then won the Stanley Cup that season.
Silovs stopped 28 shots and Matthew Dumba had an assist for the Penguins, who lost their third straight game.
The NHL played games across the European continent in an effort to expand its fan base in hockey-mad countries like Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and others. Overall, Friday was the 47th regular season game played outside of North America and the 17th in Stockholm, more than in any other city.
The Predators won the 2022 series against the San Jose Sharks in Prague.
The Penguins and Predators will conclude their series in Stockholm on Sunday.
