Tommy Novak scores twice and Roman Josi and Ryan McDonagh have multiple point games to lift the Nashville Predators over the Florida Panthers in critical win.
After back to back losses, the Nashville Predators took the ice at Bridgestone Arena today desperate to turn things around as they battle to stay in playoff contention. The Preds welcomed the 28-24-6 Florida Panthers. The Panthers, last season's President's Trophy winner, have had an up and down season despite a strong performance from big offseason acquisition Matthew Tkachuk.
The details of their opposition almost don't matter for the Predators who have lost games this week to the best team and one of the worst teams in the league. Nashville finds themselves in a position in which they must win regardless of who they play if they want to stay in the playoff hunt. Today's game had the feel of a "must win" if the Preds want to prove they have what it takes to make the postseason.
Game Recap
The Predators came out of the gate with grit and determination. Roman Josi kept puck possession against four Panthers players waiting for a line change and then found Tommy Novak who buried the puck at 2:36. Nashville kept the pressure on, but Florida's brief stretch in the offensive zone led to a goal by former Predator Nick Cousins to tie the game at 7:55.
The goal buoyed the Panthers who began generating more time in the offensive zone. Matthew Tkachuk snuck around the net and tipped in a shot to give Florida the lead at 12:09. Matt Duchene buried a follow up shot past Bobrovsky to tie it up again less than a minute later.
A hooking call gave Nashville the first power play chance of the game at 13:19. The Preds struggled initially on the man advantage, but as time wound down Roman Josi found Ryan Johansen hovering by the net. Johansen tipped it past Bobrovsky to give the Preds the lead once again at 15:01. As the period wound down, Ryan Lomburg headed to the penalty box for a high stick, and the Preds finished the opening period with a man advantage.
Ryan Johansen taps the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky on the power play. The second period started with just over a minute left on the Predators power play. Nashville pressured Bobrovsky but couldn't capitalize. It took the Preds a stretch of time to settle back into clean offensive execution, but a flawless stretch pass from Roman Josi to Colton Sissons led to Nashville's fourth goal at 7:40. Bobrovsky headed to the bench after allowing four goals on twelve shots, and Spencer Knight came in to take over in net for the Panthers.
Colton Sissons lifts the puck past Bobrovsky for Nashville's fourth goal of the game. Tanner Jeannot headed to the penalty box at 8:47 for a holding infraction, but Nashville's penalty kill kept Florida from scoring on the man advantage. The successful kill energized the Preds and a huge hit by Colton Sissons energized the crowd at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville kept the pressure up, and it paid off at 16:23 as Josi hammered the puck past Knight. The Predators headed into the second intermission with a 5-2 lead.
The Predators needed to be careful not to sit back in the final twenty minutes. Florida pushed back through the opening minutes of the period, but Nashville was able to contain the offensive pressure. A boarding call at 7:47 gave the Preds another chance on the power play. Tommy Novak scored his second goal of the game as he banked the puck off Spencer Knight at 8:58 on the man advantage.
A behind the play dust up between Juuso Pärssinen and Josh Mahura resulted in a power play for Florida. Aleksander Barkov wasted no time scoring to make it a 6-3 game.
Florida went empty net with just over seven minutes remaining in the game and brought on an extra attacker. Yakov Trenin hit the empty net from the defensive end at 14:14 to quell any comeback for Florida. Jusso Pärssinen tipped a goal in moments later, but the play was ruled offside. When the final buzzer sounded, the Predators skated off the ice with a much needed 7-3 win over the Panthers.
Game Notes
1. Roman Josi and Ryan McDonagh had themselves a game. The top D pairing dominated in their ice time finishing +4 defensively and recording a combined six points.
2. Nashville was able to finish offensive chances. This is the first game in which the Predators have scored more than two goals since the All Star break. It hasn't always been lack of chances - it's been lack of finish. Nashville finished the game with 2.09 xGF but 7 goals on the scoreboard.
3. This was a huge response game after the loss to Boston. The Predators have been an inconsistent team all season so it's hard to know what this game will mean long term. It is reassuring - for now - to see the Preds be able to not just reset when it comes to on ice execution but also mentally.