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Flyers' Gostisbehere scores game-winner in overtime

Rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored the game-winning overtime goal for the second time in a week during Friday afternoon's 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.

The Flyers' Wayne Simmonds (right) and Nashville's Filip Forsberg battle along the boards during the third period Friday. (Chris Szagola / AP)
The Flyers' Wayne Simmonds (right) and Nashville's Filip Forsberg battle along the boards during the third period Friday. (Chris Szagola / AP)Read moreAP

Shayne Gostisbehere is enjoying his time with the Flyers, especially when it comes to overtime. The rookie defenseman scored the game-winning overtime goal for the second time in a week during Friday afternoon's 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators at the Wells Fargo Center.

On Monday Gostisbehere scored the game-winner in the Flyers 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He is the first rookie in Flyers history to score multiple overtime game-winners in one season.

"It's a fun ride right now and I don't have any plans of getting off it," said Gostisbehere, who has scored five points in seven games since being recalled from the Phantoms. "I have never scored that many overtime winners in my life so I mean it's a surreal moment, but I'm going to keep going and I'm looking forward to New York."

He was referring to Saturday's game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

With the Flyers on the 4-on-3 power play, Jake Voracek fed Gostisbehere at the point. He then passed to Claude Giroux at the left circle, who sent it back to Gostisbehere. The rookie's one-timer from the slot ended matters 4 minutes and 8 seconds into overtime. Wayne Simmonds provided a screen on goalie Pekka RInne.

The Flyers went on the power play when Nashville was called for too many men on the ice with 2:40 left.

Nashville, which lost four of five games on this road trip, tied the score with 20 seconds left in regulation when Mike Fisher fought through a crowd and scored on a rebound in front of goal. The Predators had a 6 on 5 advantage after pulling Rinne.

"Right after they scored I was just trying to forget about it right way," said Flyers goalie Michael Neuvirth, who made 33 saves, including a sensational stop while sprawled on the ice against Eric Nystrom when the Predators were shorthanded in the second period.

For one game, the Flyers shook their even strength blahs. After going the previous four games without scoring an even strength goal, the Flyers scored two.

Just 1 minute and 44 seconds into the game, Nashville struck when Filip Forsberg took a feed from behind the net by Mike Ribeiro and easily scored.

The Flyers tied the score four minutes into the game when Brayden Schenn fed Michael Del Zotto, who fired from the left circle to score his first goal of the season.

Including last year, Del Zotto had gone 25 games without a goal.

Colin McDonald scored his first goal as a Flyer with 15:03 left in the third period to give them a 2-1 lead.

Flyers defenseman Evgeny Medvedev dumped the puck in from the left point and McDonald fought Eric Nystrom for the puck, then tapped it in the short side.

"It was a little bit fortunate trying to spin off that d-man in front," said McDonald, who had a cut on his right eye courtesy of a fight with Barrett Jackman. "The puck went to where I spun."

It was McDonald's first goal since Feb. 10 when he scored against the Edmonton Oilers as a member of the New York Islanders. He had gone 15 games without a goal, including his first as Flyer in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Islanders.

The Flyers (8-10-5) have played a league-high 10 games beyond regulation. Nobody was complaining for the extra time, especially Gostisbehere, who has provided some of his best work when the game goes beyond 60 minutes.

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard