The Nashville Predators honored their inaugural team from the 1998-99 season on Monday, but the Florida Panthers—just like they did 25 years ago—spoiled all the fun.
On October 10th, 1998, the final score was Florida 1, Nashville 0.
Tonight, with many of those same Predators players watching from the stands, the final score was Florida 4, Nashville 1.
Sam Reinhart scored midway through the 2nd period to put Florida up 1-0. Then, after Jeremy Lauzon tied the game for Nashville late in the 2nd, Carter Verhaegehe scored early in the 3rd period to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
Two empty net goals gave Florida a 4-1 victory, keeping them at 2nd place in the Atlantic division with 60 points.
With the loss, Nashville remains in the 2nd wild card spot in the Western Conference with 51 points.
Nashville’s rough starts continue
Similar to other home losses this season, the Predators started the contest on their back heels. Florida outshot Nashville 9-2 in the first five minutes of the game, using high pressure tactics to force turnovers in the Predators’ end.
“It’s happening way too often,” head coach Andrew Brunette said of the poor start. “It happened again tonight and we weren’t able to recover.”
At one point in the 2nd period, Florida was outshooting Nashville 22-7, shortly before taking a 1-0 lead. The Panthers ended the game with a 38-27 shot advantage. Their unique blend of size and speed was a constant presence at both ends of the ice.
“That’s a good squad,” Colton Sissons said after the game. “We got our lunch handed to us in the first a little bit. They were dictating the pace of the game. But we certainly played a lot better in the last two frames, and we were right there.”
Juuse Saros kept the team in the game as best he could, making 34 saves in the loss, but the team’s lack of defensive coverage was the culprit according to Brunette.
“I thought our puck play was pretty poor,” Brunette said. “It just came in waves. Couple of poor turnovers, then defending for a little bit too long, and we’re a little bit tired.”
The Predators also took a few untimely penalties, including a tripping penalty by Yakov Trenin that led to the Panthers first power play goal. It was Trenin’s first of four penalties on the night, one of which led to a fighting major.
Poor puck play, struggles in the offensive zone, taking ill-advised penalties, and getting out-played by a more talented team?
A perfect game to honor the 1998 squad.
— Featured image via Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire —
