The Pittsburgh Penguins understand they are in Sweden to conduct business for the NHL as ambassadors of the league this weekend.

With a pair of contests against the Nashville Predators, all parties involved are hoping to spread the NHL’s version of ishockey to Sverige.

But the Penguins haven’t lost sight of their more immediate business concerns.

“We’re here for two games, four big points,” Penguins forward Kevin Hayes said to reporters in Sweden via audio provided by the team’s media relations department. “No matter where you’re playing.”

Only a quarter of that pursuit was realized Friday as they suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to the Predators.

It was a very sudden come-from-ahead type of defeat as the Predators scored late in regulation and early in overtime to claim victory.

A goal by forward Steven Stamkos, his fourth of the season, only 44 seconds into the overtime period, was the difference.

Rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs made 28 saves on 30 shots as his record slipped to 4-2-4.

Serving as the visiting team in this contest, the Penguins were limited to 17 shots as they lost for the fifth time in their past six games (1-3-2).

“When you have a lead going into the third and late into the game like that, you’ve got to find ways to close it out,” captain Sidney Crosby said. “We’ve got to find a way to close out games.”

Following a scoreless first period, the Predators had a wonderful opportunity to take the game’s first lead at 7:34 of the second period.

After escaping the penalty box following the expiration of a power-play opportunity for the Penguins, Predators defenseman Justin Barron generated a breakaway but had a pair of forehand shots denied by Silovs’ left leg.

The Arty Party has gone international ???????? pic.twitter.com/6XGNQthihy

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 14, 2025

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin broke the ice at 13:49 of the second frame with his fourth goal of the season.

As former Penguins forward Michael Bunting tried to swipe a puck out of his own zone off the right half-wall, current Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba pinched in to prevent those ambitions. The puck wound up sliding around the near corner to the end boards, where Malkin claimed possession and attempted a pass through the slot. Predators forward Michael McCarron got his stick on the puck, causing it to deflect up into the left shoulder of goaltender Juuse Saros, then into the cage. Malkin was credited with the score, and Dumba had the only assist.

Evgeni Malkin scores the first goal in the Global Series ???? pic.twitter.com/oQ6TptGmQ4

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) November 14, 2025

With Saros pulled for an extra attacker, the Predators finally put a puck behind Silovs late in regulation at 18:50 of the third frame when forward Filip Forsberg collected his eighth goal.

Crosby won a defensive zone draw against Stamkos in the right circle and tried to feed the puck to Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea. Forsberg read the sequence like an instruction manual and stole the puck, then flipped a backhander from the lower rim of the circle by Silovs’ blocker on the far side. There were no assists.

Electric moment as Filip Forsberg ties the game with a sick backhand in front.

Good for him. pic.twitter.com/PcKysstZb4

— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) November 14, 2025

Stamkos wasted little time in overtime.

Operating with the expanse of three-on-three play, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson tried to feed a pass to Nashville’s crease to set up Crosby for a goal, but those hopes never materialized. Predators defenseman Brady Skjei claimed the rebound and skated it out of danger before sending a cross-ice pass to the center red line for Stamkos.

Gliding past Malkin into the Penguins’ zone on the right wing, Stamkos faced little, if any, resistance. Approaching the right dot, Stamkos snapped a wrister to the far side that seared Silovs’ blocker. The only assist went to Skjei.

Did that just happen? Moments after Filip Forsberg ties the game for the Predators, Steven Stamkos wins it in overtime.

Stockholm loving it. pic.twitter.com/qkKI3x2XIn

— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) November 14, 2025

The teams will conclude their two-game series in Stockholm on Sunday.

Notes:

• The Penguins fell to 2-2-1 all-time in games outside of North America. They previously played in Stockholm to open the 2008-09 season and split a pair of games with the Ottawa Senators. And at the start of the 2000-01 campaign, they split two contests with the Predators in Tokyo.

• The Penguins had a three-game winning streak against the Predators snapped.

• The Penguins’ last overtime loss to the Predators was a 3-2 defeat on the road at Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 28, 2023. Forsberg scored the winning goal in that contest against goaltender Tristan Jarry.

Nashville goal!

Scored by Filip Forsberg with 04:46 remaining in the OT period.

Assisted by Roman Josi and Ryan O'Reilly.

Nashville: 3Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsNSH #Preds #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/O4PX9x9lul

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 29, 2023

• Dumba returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for five consecutive games.

• Forward Philip Tomasino was back in the Penguins’ lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games.

• Penguins defensemen Harrison Brunicke and Connor Clifton, as well as forward Danton Heinen, were healthy scratches. Brunicke, a rookie, has been a healthy scratch for four consecutive games.

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