Predators - 2, Panthers - 1: Leonard Scores Game Winner, Lankinen Outstanding in Net

The Florida Panthers have gone 6-4 in their last ten games and bounced back from an up and down February with a solid win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night. Center Eetu Luostarinen recorded five assists in his last six games and Eric Staal scored a goal and an assist in the Panthers win over the Lightning. Aleksander Barkov, one of the Panthers' top point scorers, was out tonight with an upper body injury. Sergei Bobrosky got the start in net.

Game Recap

Florida recorded the early shots on net as the game got underway, but the Predators settled in and pressured Bobrovsky as they loosened up. Play and possession were choppy through the opening period. The first interruption on the back and forth came at 13:33 as Radko Gudas tripped Luke Evangelista. Evangelista earned his first NHL point on the subsequent power play assist on a Duchene goal at 13:40.

Florida generated more zone time in front of Lankinen, but the Preds were able to keep Florida off the scoreboard. Nashville, however, recorded their second goal of the game late in the opening period. Cody Glass and Roman Josi executed a beautiful give and go and John Leonard tapped the loose puck past Bobrovsky for his first goal as a Nashville Predator. The period ended with Preds up 2-0 and the lead in shots on goal 12-7.

Alexandre Carrier did not return to the bench for the second period after taking a puck high late in the first period. Both teams came out with speed and pressure. A turnover in the offensive zone for the Preds resulted in a three on one for Florida, and Brandon Montour scored on Lankinen at 3:21. The goal energized the Panthers, and they put together several rush chances. Nashville was able to survive the speed and pressure and eventually respond with some speed and pressure as the pace of the game picked up through the middle of the second period. 

Lankinen had to be focused in net especially on a defensive zone turnover that left him defending against a two on none. Florida trapped a Preds shift in the defensive zone for over two minutes, but thanks to Lankinen and fortunate puck bounces, Nashville survived. The Predators were outshot 16-7 in the second period but still held on to a 2-1 lead after forty minutes of play.

The final period began as the second left off - with back and forth action. Neither team generated a high volume of chances through the first half of the third period despite a high quantity of geography skated. Nashville bounced a shot off the post with eight minutes left in the game, but much of the offense belonged to the Panthers.

Florida amped up their offensive pressure as time wound down in the third period, but Kevin Lankinen was unwilling to give up a late goal. With two minutes remaining, Bobrovsky left the net empty and Florida added the extra attacker. Despite the late push, Lankinen would not yield, and Nashville skated away with a 2-1 win. 

Game Notes

1. Kevin Lankinen played an outstanding game in net. Nashville is used to seeing Saros make big saves, but Lankinen was as formidable tonight. Lankinen deserves a ton of credit for this win. 

2.. This Preds team showed fight. Nashville's locker room has had so much turnover this week, but the players who suited up tonight showed fight and resiliency under highly stressful off ice circumstances. 

3.. Tyson Barrie faced a challenging first game as a Predator. With Alexandre Carrier leaving the game after taking a puck high in the first period, Barrie picked up plenty of extra shifts despite not being able to participate in morning skate. 

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