Controversial Overtime Goal Secures Minnesota Wild Victory Over Nashville Predators

On November 4, 2025, the Minnesota Wild defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a dramatic overtime finish that has drawn significant controversy. The pivotal moment occurred at 3:38 of overtime when Wild forward Marcus Johansson scored a goal under contentious circumstances involving the dislodging of the goal net by Predators goalie Justus Annunen. The goal was upheld after a video review, leading to disagreement from the Predators' players and coaching staff.

New York Times

The game was tightly contested, with the Wild initially taking a 2-1 lead thanks to power-play goals from Kirill Kaprizov and Zeev Buium. Nashville's Matthew Wood equalized in the second period, and in a dramatic turn, Steven Stamkos tied the game with just 0.3 seconds left in regulation, sending it into overtime. During the extra period, as Kaprizov passed to Johansson, Annunen inadvertently pushed the net off its moorings. Johansson capitalized on the situation, scoring after collecting his own rebound. Referee Trevor Hanson signaled a goal, which was subsequently confirmed by the NHL's Situation Room based on Rule 63.7, which allows for a goal if the net is displaced by a defending player prior to a scoring opportunity.

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Predators coach Andrew Brunette expressed his disagreement with the call, stating, "I don’t think just by the physics of pushing that’s what he was trying to do." He emphasized that the net's displacement should not have influenced the outcome of the play. Stamkos echoed this sentiment, questioning the emphatic nature of the goal call, stating, "If the puck goes in right away, no problem if the net is off. But he missed the net, and the puck actually bounced back to him because the net was sideways."

ESPN

The Predators' players voiced their frustrations post-game. Forward Michael McCarron remarked, "I don’t know how the ref can stand there with a straight face and call it a goal," expressing disbelief at the decision. The consensus among the Predators was that the goal should not have counted, as they felt the net's position directly affected Johansson's scoring opportunity.

New York Times

This victory marked the Wild's second consecutive win, improving their record to 5-6-3, while the Predators fell to 5-6-4, suffering their second straight overtime loss. The game highlighted ongoing challenges for Nashville, who struggled to convert their offensive pressure into goals, despite dominating possession and outshooting the Wild.

The Tennessean

Following this match, the Predators will return home to face the Philadelphia Flyers on November 6, while the Wild will travel to play the Carolina Hurricanes on the same day. The outcome of this game may have lasting implications for both teams as they navigate a competitive season.

The Tennessean