Predators at Panthers
The Florida Panthers have had some trouble keeping the puck out of their net since the All-Star break and look to change that trend when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday. The Panthers, who are third in the league in goals against (2.31), have allowed 20 in their last six contests - including Friday's 5-3 loss to St. Louis.
Florida leads the Atlantic Division by five points and has five contests left on a six-game homestand with several key players out of the lineup due to injuries, including top center Aleksander Barkov (upper body). The Predators are in a fight for their playoff lives in the Western Conference and let a point get away in a 4-3 overtime loss at Tampa Bay on Friday. All-Star James Neal scored a goal, reaching 20 for the eighth time in his eight NHL seasons. “He’s been a consistent goal scorer in this league,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette told reporters. “It’s not easy to do. He’s been a strong player for us.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (25-21-9): Laviolette was not pleased with the late slashing call against his team that led to Steven Stamkos’ power-play goal with 26.6 seconds left in regulation, before Nashville dropped to 1-8 on the season in overtime. “We played a good game tonight,” Laviolette told reporters. “It got taken from us.” Filip Forsberg tallied Friday for the fourth time in his last three games while defenseman Roman Josi set up a pair of goals, pushing his team-leading totals to 29 assists and 40 points.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (32-17-6): Florida has struggled on the penalty kill of late, allowing seven power-play tallies in the last five contests, and it doesn’t help that key defensemen Erik Gudbranson and Willie Mitchell are out with injuries. The Panthers continue to get strong offensive contributions throughout the lineup as Jonathan Huberdeau and All-Star Jaromir Jagr each notched two points to tie for the team lead with 40 while six players have at least 34. Jagr has 739 goals – two shy of Brett Hull for third place on the all-time list.
OVERTIME
1. Florida recalled LW John McFarland from Portland of the American Hockey League and assigned C Corban Knight to the Pirates.
2. Nashville G Pekka Rinne has stopped 105 of the 122 shots he has faced (.861 save percentage) since the All-Star break.
3. The Panthers have earned at least one point in each of the last four meetings (2-0-2), including a 2-1 win at Nashville on Dec. 3.