PREDATORS RALLY PAST PENGUINS WITH THREE-GOAL THIRD PERIOD

Nashville, TN — Friday when Smashville celebrated General Manager Neil Burkholder’s birthday, the Predators gifted their architect the perfect present — a gutsy, hard-fought 6–4 comeback win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bridgestone Arena.

The victory, fueled by a relentless third-period surge, felt symbolic: a team still forming its identity showed exactly the kind of resilience and swagger Burkholder has preached since taking over the organization.

Special Teams Chaos Sets the Tone

The first period was a rollercoaster of momentum and whistles. Pittsburgh struck first at 6:04 thanks to Cole Perfetti, but the Predators punched right back with two power-play goals in 67 seconds from Ilya Lyubushkin and Marcus Pettersson.

 
Pittsburgh answered with a power-play goal of their own from Shayne Gostisbehere, tying the game 2–2 in a chaotic, penalty-heavy opening frame.

Fensore’s First Ignites the Building

In the second, newcomer Domenick Fensore scored his first goal as a Predator — a laser off an Ilya Lyubushkin feed at 18:26 — sending the crowd into a roar.

But just 32 seconds later, Perfetti struck again, stealing the momentum and knotting the game 3–3 heading into the third.

Third-Period Push Defines the Night

Pittsburgh grabbed the lead early in the third on a Yanni Gourde deflection at 6:28, but that was the last time the Penguins would control the game.

From there, Nashville dominated.

Reilly Smith buried a power-play goal at 12:33 to tie it, then added another at 16:50 — a slick wrister off a Crouse setup — giving Nashville a 5–4 lead.

Robby Fabbri sealed the win at 18:35, banging home a Sundqvist pass to put the game out of reach.

Birthday Win for the Boss

Inside the tunnel afterward, players made it clear they knew the significance of the moment.

“Perfect timing,” Marcus Pettersson laughed. “You always want to win on the GM’s birthday. Burks deserves that one.”

Reilly Smith added:

“He’s built this room to compete every night. Getting him a win on his birthday? That just feels right.”

Coach Lane Lambert echoed the sentiment:

“Neil’s passion sets the tone for everyone in this organization. The group wanted this one for him.”

GM Burkholder, smiling but understated, kept the focus on the team:

“All I wanted was effort. They gave me that — and more.”

A Night That Felt Bigger Than a Game

With the team stabilizing after early-season turbulence, this win — complete with comeback energy, power-play execution, and a gritty defensive finish — felt like more than two points.

It felt like a turning point. And on GM Neil Burkholder’s birthday, Smashville couldn’t have delivered it on a better night