Florida Panthers rookie Justin Sourdif scored his first NHL goal, and the Panthers secured a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. Florida, which has now won three of its last four games, was powered by a Gordie Howe hat trick from Sam Bennett, as well as goals from Gustav Forsling and Mackie Samoskevich.
Spencer Knight made 18 saves, while Aleksander Barkov contributed two assists to help Florida improve to 22-3-0 when leading after the first period this season. On the other side, Juuse Saros stopped 21 shots, and Micheal McCarron scored the lone goal for Nashville, which has now lost two straight.
Bennett set the tone early, scoring a power-play goal just 1:23 into the first period. Later in the game, he dropped the gloves with Cole Smith and added an assist on Samoskevich’s third-period goal, completing the rare Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, an assist, and a fight).
Sourdif, who was recalled from AHL Charlotte earlier Tuesday, extended Florida’s lead at 4:21 of the second period, tucking a wrist shot under the crossbar off a 2-on-1 rush with Jesper Boqvist.
Nashville finally broke through at 4:30 of the third period when McCarron snapped a 33-game goalless drought, cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, the Panthers responded quickly, as Forsling restored a two-goal cushion at 9:02 of the third with a wrist shot past Saros. Samoskevich sealed the victory at 15:22, finishing off a pass from Bennett for the 4-1 final score.
Spencer Knight has now won three consecutive starts, improving his career record against Nashville to 3-0-0. Florida’s record when leading after the first period is now an impressive 22-3-0.
Captain Roman Josi did not play in the third period after taking a hard hit from Bennett in the second. He finished with 15:39 of ice time before exiting the game. McCarron’s goal was his first in 33 games.
Just 4:32 after McCarron’s goal made it a one-goal game, Forsling’s clutch wrist shot from the left side beat Saros, restoring Florida’s two-goal lead and deflating Nashville’s comeback hopes.
The next game for both teams will be, the Panthers host Edmonton on Thursday, while the Predators will host Winnipeg on Thursday.
