Tommy Novak scores twice, Nashville Predators score most goals of season in 7-3 win vs Panthers
Paul Skrbina
The Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers scored often early Saturday afternoon.
The teams combined for five first-period goals but the Predators scored more often during a 7-3 victory at Bridgestone Arena, setting a season high for goals in the process.
Tommy Novak gave the Predators a 1-0 lead with 17 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first period on his team’s first shot on goal, the first of two goals for Novak.
Former Predator Nick Cousins tied the score with 12:05 remaining in the first. Matthew Tkachuk followed with another score with 7:51 left in the period to put the Panthers ahead.
Matt Duchene tied it 47 seconds later when he beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a pass from Ryan McDonagh for his 17th goal of the season.
Ryan Johansen put the Predators back ahead when he scored a power-play goal with just under five minutes left in the first.
Colton Sissons gave the Predators a 4-2 lead with 12:20 remaining in the second period with a backhanded score, his ninth of the season. Roman Josi, who also had two assists, added to the lead with his 14th goal with 3:37 left in the second.
Yakov Trenin's empty-net goal in the closing minutes gave the Predators a season high in goals scored. McDonagh had three assists.
Predators forward Filip Forsberg missed his third consecutive game with an upper-body injury.
The Predators are 26-21-6. The Panthers are 28-25-6.
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