Flames tie with 0.1 seconds left, Saros injured in Preds' chaotic OT loss

The Nashville Predators looked like they were on their way to besting the Calgary Flames in regulation on Tuesday night, but the universe had other ideas in one of the most dramatic games of the regular season.

Nashville held a 4-3 lead with just over six minutes left in the final frame when star netminder Juuse Saros limped down the tunnel with an apparent injury. Former Flames goaltender David Rittich entered the contest in relief.

The Predators were mere moments from closing out the win when pesky Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk tucked the puck home with 0.1 seconds remaining in the third period.

The Flames went on to seal the comeback victory in overtime, with Elias Lindholm delivering the dagger.

There was no update on Saros' status after the game.

"I've got to say, I've played over 1,000 games now, and that's probably (one of the) top five games I've been a part of, with the goals, the hits, the fights, the emotion, the crowd," Flames forward Milan Lucic said postgame, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "It was a great game to be a part of."

Regardless of the dramatic loss, the Predators clinched their eighth straight playoff spot Tuesday thanks to the Dallas Stars' 3-2 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

The slugfest between Calgary and Nashville could be a preview of what's to come if the two teams meet in the first round of the playoffs.

"Get the ice packs ready," Tkachuk said of a potential seven-game series.