Predators -0, Panthers - 5: Nashville Penalties Lead to Four Power Play Goals

Eetu Luostarinen and Mackie Samoskevich capitalized on Nashville penalties while Predators young forwards Phil Tomasino and Reid Schaefer struggled to finish chances.

The Nashville Predators took the ice at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL for the first game of a preseason doubleheader against the Florida Panthers.

The opening period of preseason play was marked by penalties that caught up to the Nashville Predators quickly. Although Nashville had the first opportunity on the power play at 2:52, they couldn't score on their three shots on goal against Spencer Knight. Anthony Angello headed to the penalty box at 5:05, and :51 seconds later William Lockwood scored a tip in goal to give Florida the 1-0 lead. 

A cross check by Kevin Gravel gave the Panthers another quick power play opportunity. A well placed stretch pass from Oliver Ekman-Larsson found Eetu Luostarinen who beat Kevin Lankinen for Florida's second power play goal at 7:00. 

Nashville couldn't capitalize on their second power play chance when Mike Reilly headed to the box for a cross check, and neither team could take advantage of the extra ice as Kalan Lind and Anton Lundell each spent time in their respective penalty boxes at 13:42. The period ended with Cole Smith serving four minutes for high stick and unsportsmanlike calls. Nashville headed to the locker room down 2-0 and trailing 15-7 in shots on goal. 

The second period began with another trip to the box. This time Florida's Marek Alscher sat for an interference infraction giving Nashville a power play opportunity. Despite Nashville's struggle to set up in the offensive zone, Kalan Lind got two pucks on net but couldn't score. Another opportunity on the man advantage came at 4:42 as Aleksander Barkov took a seat for two minutes after a slash. The Predators best chance of the game came on that power play, but Phil Tomasino's shot rang off the post, and the teams returned to five a side. 

A break in the action at 9:15 gave both teams the chance to swap out their goaltenders. Ludovic Weber came in for the Panthers and Troy Grosenick replaced Kevin Lankinen. 

Nashville had another offensive chance hit the crossbar, but it was the Panthers who scored in the second period on a 5 on 3 opportunity. Phil Tomasino was in the box for a trip when Jack Matier joined him after a hook. Eetu Luostarinen found a rebound in the slot and scored to give Florida a 3-0 lead heading into the second intermission. 

The Predators were able to kill off the remainder of the Matier penalty to begin the third period, but the Panthers increased their lead at five on five as Mackie Samoskevich tipped in a goal at 2:53. 

Nashville generated their best offensive chances with Tommy Novak, Phil Tomasino, and Kiefer Sherwood on the ice. The Nashville momentum the trio tried to generate was interrupted at 9:22 as Kiefer Sherwood headed to the box for four minutes for combined hold and slash calls. The Panthers power play pressured, but Troy Grosenick made several saves and the penalty kill was able to keep Florida off the board. 

Reid Schaefer took his turn in the penalty box at 15:22 for a trip. Grosenick covered the crease to make three saves on one timers, but at 17:08 Mackie Samoskevich scored to give the Panthers a 5-0 lead. 

Nashville had a late chance on the power playas Reid Schaefer was hit into the boards with less than a minute to play. Jokaim Kemell tried to get off a one timer but broke his stick on the attempt. Nashville couldn't convert in the remaining time and dropped their first preseason game to the Florida Panthers by a score of 5-0.