Despite scoring first (again), the Florida Panthers were beaten 2-1 in overtime by the Nashville Predators at Amerant Bank Arena, sending the tail-spinning two-time defending champions to a fifth-straight defeat on home ice.
The opening period featured strong goaltending from both Sergei Bobrovksy and Juuse Saros, and it was a big Bob stop on Matthew Wood that lead to Florida’s only goal at 16:26.
After denying Wood on a short track breakaway, Bobrovsky sweep the puck to the left side and A.J. Greer sent Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe away on a 2-on-1 rush. Bennett threaded a pass through the legs of defenseman Nicolas Hague and Verhaeghe easily finished with Saros going the wrong way.
As has been the case far too many times this season, the Panthers couldn’t find another goal and it ended up costing them in the end (and in the standings).
With Bobrovsky closing in on his third shutout of the season, Gustav Forsling allowed Ryan O’Reilly to get inside position and rap in the rebound of Michael Bunting’s centering shot/pass from the right side. Hague collected the second helper on the goal, which came with 6:19 left in regulation.
Late in overtime, Forsling got denied by Saros and the Predators were able to work the puck past Verhaeghe at the blue line and burst down the ice. Roman Josi deftly dropped to O’Reilly and the chasing Forsling hit the deck and slid into Bobrovsky, sending him to the ice. O’Reilly calmly waited before centering to Steven Stamkos, who ripped the puck into the back of the net, which had been knocked from its moorings, with 57 seconds left in the extra session.
Tough way to go down… Although the Cats finally earned a point on this homestand, the losing streak is now at four and will keep growing unless they can figure out how to manufacture more goals and stop wasting quality starts from the goalies. The Panthers got six power-play chances and came up empty, and on top were badly outplayed in the third. They’ll get today off before finishing off the homestand with a weekend back-to-back against the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders.
The Five Hole
New father Carter Verhaeghe returned to the lineup to score the only goal for the Panthers. Verhaeghe, who registered a game-high five shots, has scored in three of his last four outings and has amassed seven points over that span.
Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 27 saves, including eight of the high-danger variety, but suffered his third-straight defeat to fall to 10-8-1 on the season.
Niko Mikkola was credited with two shots, four hits and three blocks. The towering defender used his long reach to sweep away what would’ve been a sure goal for Steven Stamkos in the second period.
After having his four-game point streak ended by Toronto on Tuesday, Sam Bennett got right back on the score sheet. Bennett has produced eight points in the last eight games.
Florida’s penalty killers took care of all five of Nashville’s power play opportunities.
Stat Card
