Steven Stamkos and Juuso Pärssinen each scored in a second consecutive game, but the floundering Nashville Predators had no answers for the defending Stanley Cup champions and fell to the Florida Panthers, 6-2, Thursday at Amerant Bank Arena.
If Wednesday’s gutsy effort in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals marked a step in the right direction for this Predators team, Thursday’s loss to Florida was a significant step backwards. Nashville could not stay out of the penalty box, resulting in eight power-play chances for the Panthers.
The Predators’ top-ranked penalty kill stifled Florida on six of those eight chances, but Nashville couldn’t generate anything offensively to keep up with the Panthers and finished the night with more penalty minutes (24) than shots on goal (18).
The Predators have now lost three in a row and five of their last six to fall to 4-9-1 on the season.
How the Predators lined up vs. Florida
Forsberg – O’Reilly – Stamkos
Marchessault – Jankowski – Nyquist
Tomasino – Pärssinen – Evangelista
L’Heureux – McCarron – Smith
Josi – Skjei
Lauzon – Carrier
Del Gaizo – Schenn
Wedgewood
Saros
Extra: Fabbro, Sissons, Novak*
*Tommy Novak was also scratched in Wednesday’s game against Washington and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Colton Sissons was injured during the second period of Wednesday’s game and is also listed as day-to-day.
Game Summary
The Panthers scored early and often, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in just over five minutes behind goals from Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk. Florida scored four unanswered goals before the Predators scored one, a power-play tally by Stamkos at 13:52 of the second period.
Florida tacked on two more goals, with Carter Verhaeghe’s three points (2 goals, 1 assist) leading the way. Pärssinen tipped in his third goal in as many games for the Predators at 11:51 of the third, but it was too little, too late.
Nashville went 1-for-6 on the power play and killed off six of Florida’s eight chances in a penalty-heavy contest for both teams. Predators goaltender Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves in the loss.
Up Next
The Predators will return home to host Utah Hockey Club Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast regionally on FanDuel Sports Network South and on ESPN+ for out-of-market customers in the United States.
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