Panthers Split Preseason Doubleheader With Nashville
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NASHVILLE (CBSMiami/AP) – It was an exciting day of hockey for two teams with high aspirations in the upcoming NHL season.
Filip Forsberg scored twice and assisted on Colton Sissons' goal, all on power play, to help the Nashville Predators beat the visiting Florida Panthers 5-2 on Sunday in the first game of a split-squad doubleheader Sunday.
In the night game, Michael Matheson scored at 2:05 of overtime to give Florida a 3-2 victory.
In the opener on the first day of the NHL exhibition season, Roman Josi added and an assist, Vladislav Kamenev also scored, and Ryan Ellis had three assists. Connor Brickley and Jussi Jokinen had power-play goals for Florida.
Carter Hutton started for Nashville and stopped all eight shots he faced in 30:48. Marek Mazanec allowed two goals on 14 shots the rest of the way. Mike McKenna gave up three goals on 19 shots in two periods for Florida, and Colin Stevens stopped eight of 10 shots in the third.
In the second game, Shane Harper tied it for Florida with 2:17 left in regulation. He beat Juuse Saros with a slap shot.
Taylor Aronson and Mike Fisher scored 1:37 apart early in the first period for Nashville, and Aleksander Barkov got one back for Florida midway through the period.
Florida starter Al Montoya made 18 saves in the first two periods, and Sam Brittain stopped all nine shots he faced in the third and overtime. Nashville's Pekka Rinne made 11 saves in 34:47, and Saros finished with 12 saves.
The Panthers return to action on Tuesday night at the BB&T Center when they host the Dallas Stars at 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers will face the Philadelphia Flyers in their season opener at the BB&T Center on Saturday, October 10th at 7 p.m. You can hear every game on Sports Radio 560 WQAM, the radio home of the Florida Panthers.
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