Predators Come Back On Panthers

     The Florida Panthers played their second of six consecutive games against the Western Conference and fell to the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday at BB&T Center. The Panthers blew a two-goal lead in the third period as the Predators won for the 16th time this season after giving up the first goal of the game.
     In the second period, Florida(23-17-11) picked up two goals. Tomas Fleischmann intercepted a cross-ice pass by Matt Cullen at the top of the Predators defensive zone, skated toward the left circle and snapped a shot by the left glove of Carter Hutton at 8:37. Fleischmann extended his points streak to three games.
     The Panthers moved their lead up to 2-0 at 14:27 on a 4-on-1 break. Aaron Ekblad was tripped in the right circle and Seth Jones swept the puck to behind the Preds cage. Jimmy Hayes tried to stuff in a shot which was saved, however Ekblad flipped in a shot from the edge of the crease for his eighth goal this season.
     Nashville(35-12-6), who are now 5-0-0 during afternoon games this year, chipped at the deficit with two goals on the power play in the third period. Jones powered home a slapshot from the top of the zone at 4:44 as Mike Ribeiro got credited with an assist.
     Predators rookie Filip Forsberg added his 18th goal with 4:43 left in the third and continued a five-game point streak. There was a loose puck in the slot area and Forsberg ripped a shot from the right circle over the right blocker of Roberto Luongo.
     The game went into a shootout and there were many successful attempts. The Cats got goals from Brad Boyes in the second round and Nick Bjugstad in the third round while Nashville got goals from Cullen in the first round and Craig Smith in the second. Dave Bolland was stopped on the Panthers fourth attempt while Forsberg did a double deek and scored off the left leg pad of Luongo.