Panthers 2, Predators 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Florida Panthers extended their longest winning streak of the season Thursday night with sound defense and just enough scoring.
Goalie Roberto Luongo made 32 saves as Florida captured its fourth straight victory with a 2-1 decision over the Nashville Predators in Bridgestone Arena.
Playing in his 885th NHL game, just one behind Tony Esposito for 7th all-time, Luongo collected 16 saves in the second period as he helped the Panthers (12-9-4) protect their lead. It was Luongo's 411th career win, 12 shy of Esposito for 7th all-time.
Florida improved to 3-0-0 on its five-game road trip, bagging its first win in Nashville since the 2003-04 season and its first regulation victory in Nashville since 1999.
It was the sixth loss in eight games for the Predators (13-8-4), which outshot the Panthers 31-18 but couldn't really generate much traffic in front of Luongo except in the second period.
Goalie Pekka Rinne made 14 saves for Nashville, including a sprawling stop on right winger Jaromir Jagr in the first period that denied the 43-year old Jagr his 731st career goal, which would have tied him with Marcel Dionne for 4th all-time.
The Predators thought they tied it at 19:28 of the third period when defenseman Seth Jones' shot was deflected by center Cody Hodgson. But review confirmed the officials' call that the puck struck the crossbar.
Florida initiated scoring at 14:59 of the first period when center Quinton Howden pounced on a weird bounce off the boards. Streaking down the ice's middle, Howden ripped a 29-foot wrister past Rinne for his third goal.
Left winger Jonathan Huberdeau upped the Panthers' advantage to 2-0 at 11:24 of the second period with a power-play marker, just his second goal of the year. Huberdeau one-timed a pass from center Aleksander Barkov into the net with Nashville defenseman Shea Weber in the box for delay of game.
Weber's defense partner, Roman Josi, got the Predators on the board at 17:46 by deflecting a slapper from right winger Craig Smith past goalie Roberto Luongo. It was the fifth goal for Josi, making it 2-1.
NOTES: Florida C Nick Bjugstad missed his second game with an upper-body injury. ... Nashville LW Colin Wilson returned after missing Tuesday night's game with a lower-body injury as the team placed C Mike Fisher on IR with his own lower-body injury. ... D Alex Petrovic and LW Shawn Thornton were the Panthers' scratches. ... D Anthony Bitetto was the Predators' only healthy scratch.