VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – Mike Fisher’s return to the Predators quickly became a coming-out-of-retirement party.
Fisher scored in his first game back and Calle Jarnkrok won it 43 seconds into overtime as Nashville beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Friday night for its seventh consecutive victory.
The 37-year-old Fisher, who announced his retirement just more than six months ago, changed his mind and decided to come back for an eighth season with the Predators. He returned to practice with the team earlier in February and signed a one-year deal.
“They say sometimes rest is a weapon. We’ll see,” Fisher said. “I was trying to keep the shifts as short as possible, but it was easy fitting in with my linemates, the team, the way they have been playing and working. It was fun.”
If rest is indeed a weapon, the Predators seemed intent on using it Friday. They opted to give the night off to four regular players: Roman Josi, Craig Smith, Scott Hartnell and Yannick Weber. The victory in their absence showed just how much depth there is in Nashville’s lineup.