The Nashville Predators got goals from four different players and Carter Hutton made 22 saves to post his second shutout of the season in a 5-0 laugher over the suddenly reeling Florida Panthers.
Nashville went two for three on the power play and Calle Jarnkrok notched his eleventh goal of the season shorthanded to complete the scoring. Jarnkrok also bagged the game-opening goal 6:18 into the first period.
Miikka Salomaki, James Neal (PPG), and Shea Weber (PPG) were the other Predators who lit the lamp. Mike Ribeiro and Roman Josi each finished with two assists.
Florida has now dropped three of its last four games and were soundly beaten a day after losing to the St. Louis Blues to open the key six-game homestand. The Boston Bruins have crept within four points of the first place Cats and hold a game in hand.
With Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in town on Monday, coach Gerard Gallant and his troops need to find a way to re-right the ship and get back to playing winning hockey. The depleted Panthers lost Quinton Howden and Brandon Pirri during the game, so more reinforcements from Portland could be on the way.
Claws & Fangs
- It turned out to be a rough weekend for Roberto Luongo. After surrendering three goals and getting yanked after the first period against the Blues, the Cats’ all-star keeper was beaten five times on 28 shots by the opportunistic Predators.
- Calle Jarnkrok’s two goals gave him a career-high 19 points. The 24-year-old Swede also broke the ten-goal barrier for the first time.
- In addition to scoring his 21st goal, James Neal drew an assist on Jarnkrok’s game-opening goal and fired a game-high six shots on Luongo.
- John McFarland made his NHL debut, registering two hits and two blocks while finishing -1 in 8:41 TOI.
- Jaromir Jagr and Nick Bjugstad each finished with three shots on goal to lead the Panthers.
- war-on-ice has got you covered with the fancy stats breakdown right here.
- NHL.com has put together a highlight package of the last night’s ugliness for you to feast your eyes on. Oh, the horror…
- On The Forecheck has the other side of Nashville’s romp on the menu for Valentine’s Day morning.