Florida Rebounds Against Predators

NASHVILLE
The Florida Panthers came to town and were looking to rebound after a tough overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Panthers out shot the Preds 8-4 in the first period but it was Nashville who came out on top. Mike Modano set up Andrew Brunette for his 31rst of the season at 12:21 to give the home team a 1-0 lead that would stand up for the rest of the period.

The Panthers tied the game at 6:06 of the second when Pierre Dagenais scored his first of two on the night and 8th of the season. Joe Thornton gave the Preds the lead back at 9:27 and Nashville went into the third period with a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers must of got some kind of motivation speech in between period because they came out and scored 4 unanswered goals and two on their revamped power play that has been clicking on a regular basis lately. Mike Rathje scored the first power play goal and his 13th of the season at 5:43 to tie the game at 2. Just :30 seconds later Petr Bondra notched his 14th of the season to give Florida a 3-2 lead. The Panthers power play clicked again at 9:49 when Pierre Dagenais scored his second of the game and eventual game winner from Cole Jarret and Mark Parrish. Mike Cirillo added an insurance marker at 16:29 to extend the Panthers lead to 5-2. Nashvilles Ales Kotalik scored his 5th of the year at 19:20 to make the final score 5-3 in favour of the Panthers.

Florida has the next couple days off before they host the Philadelphia Flyers.