Flyers 6, Predators 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Wayne Simmonds continues to score goals and the Philadelphia Flyers continue to win games.
The right winger tallied two more Thursday, giving him six in the last four games, as Philadelphia dumped the Nashville Predators 6-3 at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.
Simmonds' second goal came on the power play at 12:01 of the third period as he deflected a slapper by defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, giving him 18 for the season. It quieted a crowd of 17,113 that had gotten loud after defenseman Shea Weber pulled Nashville within 4-3 with a one-timer on the power play at 10:03.
Center Claude Giroux tacked on his second goal of the evening at 13:11 as the Flyers (23-18-8) won for the eighth time in their last 12 games and stayed in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. Goalie Steve Mason (12-12-6) came up with 37 saves, 18 in the third period.
It was the second straight loss for the Predators (24-20-8), who maintained a one-point lead on Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Goalie Pekka Rinne (19-17-7), who allowed one goal in each of his last four starts, stopped 13 of 19 shots.
After killing off a double minor for high-sticking on defenseman Radko Gudas, Philadelphia scored two goals in a 1:58 stretch late in the first period.
Right winger Matt Read converted on a breakaway at 13:51 for his ninth goal as Nashville defensemen Ryan Ellis and Barret Jackman collided with a Flyer at the blue line and left Read to navigate unfettered down the ice's middle.
Center Brayden Schenn made it 2-0 with his 14th goal, slipping in at the net's left side and deflecting a shot from center Sean Couturier at 15:49.
Nashville center Ryan Johansen cut the deficit to 2-1 at 4:23 of the second period, a little more than a minute after the Predators killed off their own double minor. But the Flyers made it 4-1 with a rebound goal from Simmonds at 8:10 and a one-timer from Giroux at 16:15.
Predators center Calle Jarnkrok responded to Giroux's marker with one of his own 25 seconds later off the rebound of a shot by right winger James Neal.
NOTES: Nashville's 16 shots in Tuesday night's 1-0 loss to St. Louis represented a season low. ... For the second straight game, Flyers scratches were C R.J. Umberger, C Jordan Weal and D Brandon Manning. ... D Petter Granberg was the only Predator scratch after playing in the last five games. Anthony Bitetto was back in the lineup in Granberg's spot.