Flyers 3, Predators 2 (SO)
Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds each scored in the shootout to lift host Philadelphia past Nashville.
Voracek opened the bonus format by lifting a backhander over Pekka Rinne (31 saves), while Rob Zepp stopped Matt Cullen’s attempt. Simmonds fired a shot between Rinne’s pads in the second round and Zepp (20 saves) sealed the victory with a glove save on Craig Smith.
Simmonds scored his team-leading 23rd goal and Ryan White also tallied for the Flyers, who improved to 3-7 in shootouts and 5-1-2 in their last eight home games. Smith and Colin Wilson tallied for league-leading Nashville, which fell to 0-1-1 on its three-game road trip.
Simmonds got his stick on a shot by defenseman Michael Del Zotto and the puck bounced past Rinne 8:59 into the contest to open the scoring. Wilson responded with 62 seconds remaining in the first period by intercepting a pass and firing a wrist shot past Zepp.
White fired home a loose puck in the slot after some strong forechecking with 8:39 remaining in the second period to put the Flyers back in front, but Smith drilled a one-timer between Zepp’s pads just 23 seconds into the third to restore the tie. Rinne made a pair of stops on Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux from in close with four minutes remaining in regulation to keep the game even.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Simmonds extended his point streak to a career-high seven games. … Zepp had not appeared in an NHL game since Jan. 19. … Philadelphia held a 13-3 shot advantage after one period and a 22-7 edge after 40 minutes. … Smith has recorded four goals in as many games.