Simmonds Leads Flyers Past Predators 4-2 For 5th Straight
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wayne Simmonds scored two power-play goals and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Sunday night to win their fifth consecutive game.
Playing in front of a sellout crowd, the Flyers (14-10-3) earned their second road victory in two days against a Central Division team. They defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Saturday.
The Predators (11-9-4) lost in regulation for only the second time in 12 home games this season.
Simmonds, who leads the Flyers with 13 goals, scored twice against what had been a stingy Nashville penalty-killing unit at home. The Predators did not allow a power-play goal in their first 10 home games, but have given up three in their last two games.
Michael Raffl gave Philadelphia its third one-goal lead with 3:23 left in the second period. He bulled his way past Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm, cut across the crease and slipped the puck beyond the reach of goalie Juuse Saros for a 3-2 advantage.
Chris VandeVelde capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with 26.3 seconds remaining.
Colin Wilson had tied it at 2 for the Predators with 8:41 to go in the second, lifting a short-range backhand past Steve Mason. Mike Fisher sent Wilson in alone on goal with a nice cross-ice pass from just inside the blue line.
Nashville has 35 goals in the second period this season, one fewer than the team has totaled in the first and third combined.
Simmonds' second power-play goal of the night put the Flyers up 2-1 with 13:13 left in the second period. Simmonds stationed himself in front of the Nashville net and stuffed a shot under Saros.
The Predators tied it 1-all with 16:43 left in the second when Calle Jarnkrok scored his fourth goal of the season. Jarnkrok redirected Ekholm's drive from the blue line past Mason.
The Flyers converted on their second power play of the game to take a 1-0 lead with 1:48 left in the opening period. Brayden Schenn ripped a shot from the faceoff circle, and Simmonds' goal-mouth deflection bounced off the knob of Saros' stick and into the net.
NOTES: Nashville forward Reid Boucher, picked up off waivers from New Jersey on Saturday, made his Predators debut. ... Philadelphia's Claude Giroux got his 367th career assist, moving past Rod Brind'Amour into sixth place in franchise history. ... The game marked the fourth of 13 sets of back-to-back games for the Predators this season. ... The Flyers played their seventh set of back-to-back games, and will play another one next weekend. ... Philadelphia has beaten Nashville four straight times. The teams meet again on Dec. 19.
UP NEXT
Flyers: Host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.
Predators: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.