Suter’s OT goal gives Predators 4-3 win over Red Wings and clinches playoff spot for Nashville

Predators clip Wings 4-3 to clinch playoff spot

DETROIT — Ryan Suter’s goal 16 seconds into overtime Saturday gave the Predators a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings that secured Nashville’s spot in the playoffs.

J.P. Dumont, Shea Weber and Martin Erat also scored for the Predators. Pekka Rinne made 28 saves.

Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist and Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom also scored for Detroit, which had its seven-game winning streak snapped. Jimmy Howard stopped 20 shots and Tomas Holmstrom assisted on all three goals.

Suter beat Howard from the bottom of the right circle for his fourth goal.

Datsyuk tied it with 36 seconds left in regulation, with Howard pulled for the extra attacker, on a one-time slap shot from the left circle. It was Datsyuk’s 26th goal.

Dumont’s goal with 43 seconds left in the second period gave Nashville a 3-2 lead. He put in a one-timer from the inside edge of the left circle for his 17th goal.

Lidstrom’s ninth goal tied the game 2-2 with 3:59 left in the second period. He beat Rinne with a slap shot from the high slot along the inside edge of the left circle.

The Predators scored twice in the first 5:01 of the second period to take a 2-1 lead.

Weber’s 15th goal, 1:36 into the middle period, tied the game 1-1. He scored on a slap shot from the right point that glanced off Tomas Holmstrom’s stick. Erat’s 21st goal at 5:01 gave Nashville the lead. He carried the puck around the net and his turnaround shot from the right circle deflected in off the skate of Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg.

Rafalski’s power-play goal opened the scoring with 1:45 left in the first period. He slid a shot from the bottom of the left circle under Rinne’s pad for his eighth goal.

NOTES: Detroit RW Dan Cleary missed his fourth game with a sore groin. … Barry Trotz coached his 900th game with Nashville to become the sixth coach to reach that milestone with one team. … Referee Kerry Fraser, who is retiring at the end of the season, worked his 1,900th career game.