National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Nashville 4, Florida 3
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Mike Hasenfratz, Wes McCauley
Linesmen: Brian Mach, Andy McElman
Attendance: 15935

Predators 4, Panthers 3: Patric Hornqvist's power-play goal early in third period was the difference as host Nashville registered a season high in tallies.

Defenseman Shea Weber, Mike Fisher and Craig Smith each had a goal and an assist while Pekka Rinne made 22 saves as the Predators improved to 6-0-0 with two ties in their last eight home games against Florida.

Jonathan Huberdeau, Marcel Goc and defenseman Matt Gilroy scored for the Panthers, who have been outscored 23-6 in their five losses. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 26 shots in another rough outing and has surrendered 17 goals in his last four games.

Weber's bullet on a one-timer from the point was the lone goal of the opening period. Huberdeau charged down the middle to knot it at 1:16 of the second, deking both a defender and Rinne to notch his third goal. Fisher and Goc traded tallies 42 seconds apart to keep it tied at 2-2 after 40 minutes.

Smith put the Predators ahead to stay 82 seconds into the third, backhanding a rebound past Markstrom, and Hornqvist doubled the lead during a man advantage just under four minutes later. Gilroy was credited a goal when his pass deflected off David Legwand's stick and into the net with 8:23 left to cut the deficit to one, but Florida was unable to get the equalizer.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Fisher became the first Nashville player with more than one goal on the season before Hornqvist joined him with his power-play tally. ... It marked the first matchup between Panthers C Aleksander Barkov and Predators D Seth Jones, the second and fourth picks, respectively, in this year's draft. ... Panthers rookie C Nick Bjugstad, who suffered a concussion in early September, made his season debut but didn't record a shot in 9:48 of ice time.
Top Game Performances
 
Florida   Nashville
Matt Gilroy 1 Points Mike Fisher 2
Matt Gilroy 1 Goals Mike Fisher 1
Brad Boyes 1 Assists Mike Fisher 1
N/A Power Play Goals Patric Hornqvist 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jacob Markstrom .867 Save Percentage Pekka Rinne .880
Jacob Markstrom 26 Saves Pekka Rinne 22
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Florida 25 3 0-1 1-2 4 28
Nashville 30 4 1-2 1-1 2 31
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Predators have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Florida will play their next game at home against Boston. The Panthers have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .250 after a loss.