Acciari Hat Trick And Panthers Sweep Predators

     Noel Acciari compiled a hat trick as the Florida Panthers overtook the Nashville Predators 6-2 on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. Acciari scored at least three games in an NHL game for the third time in his career and his second time against the Predators. It was the second contest of a two-game set between both clubs. 

     Nashville(10-14-0) converted on the power play to go up 1-0 at 5:46 of the first period. Romani Josi tapped the puck from the right point and Filip Forsberg made a cross-ice pass. Eeli Tolvanen smashed a slap shot from the top left circle by Sergei Bobrovsky for his fourth goal this year. 

     Florida (15-4-4) evened it up 1-1 with 12.6 second left in the first. Roman Josi lifted a backhand in the neutral zone and Aaron Ekblad caught it at the red line. He brought the puck into the Nashville zone 

and snapped a rising shot from above the right circle past Pekka Rinne for his ninth goal of the season. 

     The Panthers pulled ahead 2-1 at the 1:15 of the second period. Jonathan Huberdeau scored his 10th goal this season on assists from Patric Hornqvist and Radko Gudas. Huberdeau passed Scott Mellanby for third all-time in Panthers franchise history with his 158th career goal. He collected his third goal in the last five games while Gudas got his first point in nine contests. Hornqvist was able to collect his 500th NHL point. 

     It became a two-goal margin  for the Cats with 8:44 remaining in the frame. Acciari put in his first goal of the campaign on a snap shot from the right circle after carrying the puck from the neutral zone. Ekblad was credited with an assist on the play for a multi-point game and his sixth point in the past two games. 

     Florida made it 4-1 with 1:14 to go in the second with another tally by Acciari on a backhand shot from the left of the crease. Keith Yandle initiated the play with a slap shot from the red line and picked up his 12th assist this year. 

     In the third period, the Predators attempted to make a comeback. It started well as Viktor Arvidsson found the net just 19 seconds in and closed the gap to 4-2. 

     The Panthers expanded their lead to 5-2 with 5:04 left in the third. Aleksander Barkov stole the puck in the left circle of the Predators zone. He dropped it off and Frank Vatrano scored his eighth goal of the season from the slot area on  a forehand shot. Barkov expanded his point streak up to a season-high five games. 

     Acciari completed the hat trick with his third goal of the contest with 3:02 remaining on a backhand shot from the low slot. Yandle and Huberdeau both got multi-point games with their assists on the tally. Rinne was in net for the Preds during two NHL hat tricks by Acciari.