In the midst of the current Predators’ franchise-record point streak, forward Filip Forsberg has quietly — or maybe not so quietly — crafted one heck of a heater himself.
Forsberg’s third-period goal against Vegas on Tuesday, part of the Preds’ stunning comeback victory, marked the sixth straight game he had lit the lamp at least once. He will set a franchise record if he scores in Arizona on Thursday, breaking the mark Forsberg currently holds with five other players.
Want a bigger snapshot of Forsberg’s season?
The 29-year-old has been a massive part of the Preds’ 18-game point streak, with a team-high 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) during Nashville’s 16-0-2 run that began Feb. 17.
Shall we expand the focus one more time?
Forsberg, who hasn’t missed a game all season, leads the Predators in goals (40) and points (81) and is second in assists (41). With 10 games left in the regular season, Forsberg is on pace to set career marks in goals, assists and points. Not bad for someone in his 12th NHL season.
Is it any wonder Preds coach Andrew Brunette is calling Forsberg one of the best players in the game this season?
“He’s playing great — he’s been MVP worthy,” Brunette said. “I know his numbers aren’t as high as [those of] some of the other guys. But what he means to our team and how he drives our offense, him and [Roman Josi], is pretty remarkable every night. [Forsberg] doesn’t get the press. But if we keep winning, maybe he does. He’s been outstanding.
“I wasn’t here before [this season], but I think he’s taken on a big leadership role," Brunette added. "He has a great understanding … when there’s a time when the game needs to turn around, and he’s kind of the guy that turns it around for you. Those two guys, [Forsberg and Josi]. Guys jump on their back and go.”
Forsberg has indeed made one timely play after another this season, as illustrated during his current six-game goal streak.
In a Central Division showdown with Winnipeg on March 13, it was Forsberg who scored the team’s eventual game-winning goal. Three games later against Eastern Conference heavyweight Florida, Forsberg scored twice, upping Nashville’s advantage from 1-0 to 3-0. One game after that, it was Forsberg who scored the game’s only goal when the Preds downed Detroit 1-0. He threw in the third fight of his NHL career that night for good measure.
There was Forsberg again on Tuesday, rooting around the crease to poke in a loose puck, scoring the goal that cut Vegas’ lead to 4-3 in the third period.
“Yeah, definitely, I feel like he’s taking games over at times,” Josi said. “Just like the other night, even the fight, right? Something happened. You don’t want to see him fight all the time. But yeah, I can’t even count the amount of important goals he’s scored for us this year. I just feel like obviously on that stuff he’s been unbelievable. But he’s been great as a leader. He’s taking that responsibility. He wants to be that guy who makes something happen.”
Josi stressed that those good things aren’t just happening in the offensive zone, noting Forsberg is also making the kind of plays that don’t lead to highlight videos.
“There are times when he doesn’t score, but he’s still doing so much for the team,” Josi said. “Just the other night [against Florida], he must have had like three backchecks. You don’t necessarily see him score, but he had three backchecks, breaking up plays, going the other way and working so hard to come back. That is kind of taking over a game, too, in some ways.
“He’s kind of been doing it all, which is really cool, especially for our younger forwards. Because he’s a goal-scorer and you see all the goals all the time. But you see that other stuff, too, which is something they can take away from that.”
Forsberg needs just four goals down the stretch to set the franchise mark for goals in a season, which would break the record held by former teammate Matt Duchene. The two had a friendly competition for the goal-scoring lead in 2021-22, with Duchene (43 goals) finishing one ahead of Forsberg (42).
“You keep track of [records], but at the same time, the second you start looking at it … things start drying up on you,” Forsberg said. “So yeah, I don’t really pay too much attention to that. It was a fun season for both of us when he broke that record, and obviously we both had big parts in each of our good seasons. If it happens, it happens. But we’ll see.”
In the meantime, Forsberg is enjoying playing with his linemates, center Ryan O’Reilly and right wing Gustav Nyquist. O’Reilly affectionately referred to his wings as “my Swedish meatballs” following Tuesday’s win. The trio has indeed been quite a dish this season, as Forsberg, O’Reilly and Nyquist have been on the ice for 41 goals, tied for the second-most of any line in the league. Each of the three scored during the Preds’ third-period rally against Vegas.
“It’s great,” Forsberg said. “Obviously you see [O’Reilly and Nyquist], they always step up in the big moments with [O’Reilly] starting the comeback and [Nyquist] with that shot on the power play. I’m a lucky guy.”
The other two probably feel pretty fortunate themselves.