Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b4c63265-3fbf-4c5f-99e9-18797d0112f7.jpeg] Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (20-30-7) lost their captain, Roman Josi, to an upper-body injury as they fell 4-1 to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (35-21-3) Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena. Josi took a hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett along the boards late in the second period and did not return for the third. Spencer Knight made 18 saves in goal for the Panthers, who have won three of their last four. Juuse Saros made 21 saves for Nashville in the loss. HOW THE PREDATORS LINED UP VS. FLORIDA Forsberg-O'Reilly-Marchessault Stamkos-Svechkov-Nyquist Bellows-Novak-Evangelista Smith-McCarron-Sissons Josi-Schenn Skjei-Blankenburg Englund-Barron Saros Annunen Extra: Livingstone, Jankowski (day-to-day, upper-body), L'Heureux (week-to-week, upper-body) IR: Lauzon, Wilsby Forward Kieffer Bellows made his Predators debut in place of Mark Jankowski, who exited Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils after the second period and is now day-to-day with an upper-body injury. PREDATORS VS. PANTHERS: PREGAME STATS * The Predators have spent 44.3% of time in the offensive zone this season (via NHL EDGE). That's the third most in the NHL, right behind... the Florida Panthers (44.5%). * Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault is just two goals away from 250 in his career. The only active undrafted player to reach that milestone is New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin. * Predators forward Steven Stamkos, who signed a four-year deal with Nashville in the offseason, is currently in the longest scoring drought of his 17-year NHL career. Entering Tuesday's contest, he has gone nine games without recording a point. PREDATORS VS. PANTHERS LIVE UPDATES FIRST PERIOD (FLA 1, NSH 0) * The Panthers cashed in on the man advantage thanks to an early delay of game penalty committed by Predators forward Michael McCarron. Sam Bennett flipped in a pass from Sam Reinhart to get Florida on the board at the 1:23 mark. * At the end of the first period, the Predators and Panthers had an even number of scoring chances (5) and high danger chances (1), according to Natural Stat Trick. Florida had the 11-7 shot advantage. SECOND PERIOD (FLA 2, NSH 0) * McCarron dropped the gloves for the eighth time this season, scrapping with Jonah Gadjovich in Nashville's end just two minutes into the second period. * Panthers forward Justin Sourdif, skating in his fourth NHL game, scored his first career NHL goal at the 4:21 mark. Receiving a pass from Jesper Boqvist in transition, Sourdif went top shelf to extend Florida's lead to 2-0. * With the Predators trailing the Panthers 2-0, Predators captain Roman Josi took a huge hit from Sam Bennett in the defensive zone. Bennett hit him high while trying to collect a puck along the glass, and Josi went down immediately. Bennett was called for boarding, and Josi remained on the ice for the ensuing power play. THIRD PERIOD (FLA 4, NSH 1) * Josi did not return to the Predators' bench for the start of the third period after the hit from Bennett in the second. * McCarron got the Predators on the board for the first time in five periods (they were shut out Sunday by the New Jersey Devils) with a backhand shot at the 4:30 mark. * Cole Smith made Bennett answer the bell for his hit on Josi in the second period and dropped the gloves for a spirited fight in Nashville's end at 6:15. * Florida retook the two-goal lead 9:02 of the third period, when Aaron Ekblad banked a shot off the boards and Gustav Forsling pounced on the loose puck to beat Saros and make it 3-1. * Gadjovich appeared to score the Panthers' fourth goal with 5:35 remaining in regulation, but Nashville won a coach's challenge for goaltender interference and the goal was taken off the board. * Uvis Balinskis and Filip Forsberg were whistled for offsetting cross-checking penalties at 15:19. After just 15 seconds at 4-on-4, Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg committed a costly turnover behind the Nashville net that led to a Mackie Samoskevich goal at 15:32 for the 4-1 final. * Bennett assisted on Samoskevich's goal to earn a Gordie Howe hat trick. PREDATORS VS. PANTHERS: POSTGAME UPDATE * The team announced postgame that Josi, who did not play in the third period, is being evaluated for an upper-body injury. There is no further update at this time.
