Panthers top Predators for seventh straight win, maintain Atlantic lead

NASHVILLE -- The Florida Panthers won their seventh straight game, 4-1 against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored to extend his point streak to 11 games, and Gustav Forsling had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (51-15-6), who have won 10 of 11 overall and six of seven road games. Sam Reinhart had two assists, and Spencer Knight made 24 saves. Florida was coming off a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
The Panthers remain eight points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division. Toronto defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday.
"I thought we managed the game really well," Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. "I didn't think our energy level was all that high, but we were intelligent enough to make sure that we stayed in layers. We stayed connected. We picked and choosed our time to make sure we won certain battles around the boards and blocked shots. So we did a lot of good things."

Ryan Johansen scored, and Juuse Saros made 21 saves for the Predators (41-26-4), who had won four of five.
Nashville is two points ahead of the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"We needed more tonight," Predators coach John Hynes said. "I felt we just played the game. I didn't think our competitive level was where it needed to be. I didn't think our pace and speed was what it needed to be. I thought our execution with the puck needed to be better.
"If we're going to come out and we're going to win these types of games, we have to play better than we did tonight."
Carter Verhaeghe gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 3:43 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer from the slot during a delayed penalty.
Johansen tied it 1-1 at 5:52 after Filip Forsberg fed him from behind the net. It was the fifth goal in three games for Johansen, who has seven points (five goals, two assists) during a four-game point streak.
Anton Lundell gave Florida a 2-1 lead at 15:16 of the second period. He drove from the left boards to the net and scored with a wrist shot over Saros' right shoulder.
"Today I got a good chance and just trusted my shot and it went in," Lundell said. "It was a huge goal for us and a good feeling and will always help the confidence. Players are good, every team is good, so we don't have that much time and space on the ice, so you need to do quick shots and quick decisions."
The Predators nearly tied it at 11:22 of the third period following a turnover by Knight after he came out of the crease, but Roman Josi's shot hit the side of the open net.
"We had a lot of looks," Johansen said. "Credit to [Knight]. I thought he played a great game. Unfortunately we weren't able to capitalize anymore."

Huberdeau made it 3-1 at 18:53, scoring into an empty net. He has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) during the point streak.
Forsling scored into an empty net for the 4-1 final at 19:10.
Florida had allowed 18 goals in its previous four games.
"[This game] was huge for us," Lundell said. "We've been letting in a lot of goals the last [few] week's games. We need to defend even better. We know how to score goals, but we need to make sure that we help the goalies and protect the net even better."
NOTES: Panthers center Aleksander Barkov had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (15 points; six goals, nine assists). … Reinhart set an NHL career-high with 45 assists. He had 43 for the Sabres in 2018-19. … Forsberg's assist gave him 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 19 games against the Panthers ... Johansen has scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in his past 20 games.