Forsberg, Power Play Guide Predators Past Panthers in First Half of Doubleheader

Filip Forsberg scored two power-play goals and the Nashville Predators started their preseason slate with a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena, the first of two contests between the pair of clubs on the day.

Vladislav Kamenev, Roman Josi and Colton Sissons added the other tallies for the Preds, while Carter Hutton andMarek Mazanec split time in net, making eight and 12 saves, respectively.

“That’s a big thing about getting your legs under you and your breath back and your legs going [in a preseason game]; it’s getting comfortable, getting used to the system and making the right plays,” defenseman Ryan Ellissaid. “For the most part, I think guys did a great job for the first time.”

Forsberg was the first to tally for the Preds on the afternoon, snapping a shot low to the glove of netminder Mike McKenna for a 1-0 lead at 13:43. Pontus Aberg and Ellis contributed the assists on the power-play marker.

Nashville got another before the frame was out, courtesy of Kamenev at 16:56. The 2014 draft selection beat McKenna after sharp feed across the crease from Ellis.

“He showed flashes of brilliance out there,” Ellis said of Kamenev. “He’s kind of your prototypical Russian; great hands, great vision, skates well for a bigger guy and I thought he did great. He had a good shot off the wing there, and overall, I thought he was making plays as well and that’s good to see.”

Josi increased the lead to three after his shot from the along the left boards found its way through traffic in front.Austin Watson and Paul Gaustad added helpers on the play.

Forsberg struck on the power play for the second time, wristing a shot in the high slot past Florida netminder Colin Stevens for a 4-0 lead and another Nashville man advantage led to a Sissons goal, off a feed from Forsberg, the third power-play marker of the game.

“We’re just trying to figure out how we want to play during the season,” Forsberg said of the power play. “Obviously you can’t expect to have this many goals every game during the season, but it was a great start and we’ve got something to build on.”