Couturier scores in OT to give Flyers 3-2 win over Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sean Couturier scored at 2:31 of overtime to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.

Scott Laughton and Morgan Frost also scored and Aleksei Kolosov made 25 saves for the Flyers, who have won two of three.

Roman Josi and Ryan O’Reilly scored and Juuse Saros made 21 saves for the Predators, who have lost three of four.

Kolosov improved to 2-4-0 on the season.

With the Predators leading 2-1 late in the third, Frost tied it with 11.4 seconds remaining on a redirection to send the game to overtime.

Flyers: After a sleepy start to the third period where they went for a prolonged stretch with just one shot on goal, the Flyers started putting pucks on the Nashville net, eventually getting the tying goal in the final minute.

Predators: The Predators were just seconds away from winning their third straight home game. The team struggled from the start of the season, including losing their first four at home. Gaining traction on home ice will be pivotal in Nashville attempting to get into the playoff race.

O’Reilly gave Nashville a 2-1 lead with 3:42 remaining in the first. The goal was his first since Oct. 28, ending a 13-game goalless stretch for Nashville’s top line center.

The Flyers had just one power play in Wednesday’s game and did not score on it despite pulling Kolosov for an extra attacker as it came late in the third period. Philadelphia has just one power-play goal in 13 opportunities with the man advantage over the last five games.

Flyers host the New York Rangers on Friday, and Predators host Tampa Bay.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks a shot on goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Fedor Svechkov, right, hits the puck away from Philadelphia Flyers right wing Owen Tippett (74) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Poehling (25) skates the puck past Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn (2) and right wing Luke Evangelista (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers center Scott Laughton (21) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Aleksei Kolosov (35) defends the goal against the Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Aleksei Kolosov (35) blocks a shot on goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Flyers won 3-2. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim (6) skates the puck past Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith (36) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Flyers won 3-2 in overtime(AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Flyers won 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Philadelphia Flyers players celebrate the team's 3-2 overtime win against the Nashville Predators in an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Boise State advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West women's volleyball tournament by defeating Utah State on Wednesday night, but the Broncos did not immediately say whether they would play Friday against San Jose State.

San Jose State, which received six forfeit victories because of boycotts from Mountain West opponents, is seeded second in the conference tournament and received a first-round bye.

No. 6 seed Boise State forfeited both of its regular-season matches to the Spartans.

“No decision's been made,” Boise State spokesman Doug Link said. “I don't know what's going to go on. I think we're playing, but at this time there's nothing more to say.”

Link said Broncos coach Shawn Garus would only speak to the media about the 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23 victory over the third-seeded Aggies. Players were not made available to comment.

Link said he didn't know if the decision on whether to play would occur Wednesday night or what would go into it, whether it would be a team vote or more of a university decision.

Should San Jose State play and defeat Boise State or advance through another forfeit, the Spartans would face top-seeded Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State in Saturday’s championship. Both teams played the Spartans this season.

San Jose State coach Todd Kress scouted the Boise State-Utah State match, but he was not made available for comment.

The Spartans' athletic department later released a statement that read: “Our team is excited and prepared to take the court on Friday night in the semifinals.”

Mountain West members Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada as well as Southern Utah canceled games this season against the Spartans. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details.

A lawsuit was recently filed in Colorado by players from various schools against the conference and San Jose State officials calling for a Spartans player not to be allowed participation in the tournament, citing unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver ruled Monday that the player is allowed to play, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision the following day.

While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request.

Wyoming and Nevada did not qualify for the tournament.

Participation of transgender women in women’s sports is apparently why the five teams canceled their games against San Jose State, and the topic became a hot political topic ahead of the recent election.

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

FILE - The San Jose State University Spartans line up for the playing of the national anthem and player introductions for their NCAA Mountain West women's volleyball game against the Colorado State University Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 3, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, file)