Florida Panthers Get Milestone Goal from Sourdif, Beat Predators

The Florida Panthers got back into the win column Tuesday night in Nashville as a disappointing season for the Predators slogs on.

The big story for the Panthers was Justin Sourdif getting his first NHL goal in the second period.

The gave Florida a two-goal lead in an eventual 4-1 win.

The Panthers have won six of their past eight and are 1-1 coming out of the 4 Nations break.

Florida played without both Matthew Tkachuk (injury) and Eetu Luostarinen (paternity leave), but controlled the game for much of the night.

Sam Bennett opened the scoring 83 seconds in on a power-play chance, with Sourdif scoring in the second.

Juuse Saros, who made 21 saves, kept the Predators in the game while Spencer Knight (18) only allowed a nice rebound goal from Michael McCarron in the third.

Nashville’s comeback bid in the third was thwarted by a goal from Gus Forsling midway through the period.

Anton Lundell scored with 5:35 left to make it 4-1, but Nashville won the challenge that Jonah Gadjovich interfered with Saros.

Mackie Samoskevich did make it 4-1 with 4:26 remaining, driving in front after Bennett forced a turnover in the corner and fed him for a nice forehand-backhand move.

The Panthers kick off a five-game homestand starting Thursday when the Edmonton Oilers return to Sunrise for the first time since Game 7.

GAME NOTES: PANTHERS @ PREDATORS

• Bennett’s goal was his first for the Panthers since his final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off against the Senators on Feb. 8. Bennett scored for Team Canada in the championship game against the United States.
• Sourdif’s first NHL goal came in his fourth NHL game and on his first shot on goal. Sourdif did not have a SOG in three games with Florida last season.
• Florida has 60 first-period goals this season. Coming into Tuesday, only three teams had hit the 60-goal mark in the opening 20: Buffalo (67), Washington (64), and Tampa Bay (60).

HOW THEY SCORED

• Panthers 1, Predators 0 (1:23 1st PP): Sam Reinhart pulls goalie Juuse Saros out of the net and then feeds it to a crashing Sam Bennett for the tap-in goal.
• Panthers 2, Predators 0 (4:21 2nd): Justin Sourdif gets things rolling in the Florida zone, then gets a give-and-go pass from Jesper Boqvist in front for his first NHL goal.
• Panthers 2, Predators 1 (4:30 3rd): Michael McCarron backhands a rebound past Spencer Knight after Florida fails to clear.
• Panthers 3, Predators 1 (9:02 3rd): Gus Forsling finds the puck coming around the wall and fires off a shot from the boards that beats Saros.
• Panthers 4, Predators 1 (15:34 3rd): Mackie Samoskevich takes a feed from Bennett and beats Soros with some nice stickwork.

FHN’S 3 STARS OF THE GAME

• 1. Justin Sourdif, Florida
• 2. Spencer Knight, Florida
• 3. Sam Bennett, Florida

ON DECK: GAME No. 60

EDMONTON OILERS at FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• This Season (Panthers Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Thursday. At Edmonton: Panthers 6, Oilers 5 (Dec. 16).
• Last Regular Season: Florida Won 2-0
• Last Postseason: Florida Won Stanley Cup Final 4-3
• All-time Regular Season Series: Oilers lead 23-17-0, 3 ties
• Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday vs. Calgary Flames, 3 p.m.