Predators, Panthers split exhibition doubleheader
Filip Forsberg scored twice and assisted on Colton Sissons' goal, all on power play, to help the Nashville Predators beat the visiting Florida Panthers 5-2 on Sunday in the first game of a split-squad doubleheader Sunday.
In the night game, Michael Matheson scored at 2:05 of overtime to give Florida a 3-2 victory.
In the opener on the first day of the NHL exhibition season, Roman Josi added and an assist, Vladislav Kamenev also scored, and Ryan Ellis had three assists. Connor Brickley and Jussi Jokinen had power-play goals for Florida.
Carter Hutton started for Nashville and stopped all eight shots he faced in 30:48. Marek Mazanec allowed two goals on 14 shots the rest of the way. Mike McKenna gave up three goals on 19 shots in two periods for Florida, and Colin Stevens stopped eight of 10 shots in the third.
In the second game, Shane Harper tied it for Florida with 2:17 left in regulation. He beat Juuse Saros with a slap shot.
Taylor Aronson and Mike Fisher scored 1:37 apart early in the first period for Nashville, and Aleksander Barkov got one back for Florida midway through the period.
Florida starter Al Montoya made 18 saves in the first two periods, and Sam Brittain stopped all nine shots he faced in the third and overtime. Nashville's Pekka Rinne made 11 saves in 34:47, and Saros finished with 12 saves.
---
BRUINS BLANK DEVILS
In Providence, Rhode Island, Matt Irwin scored two power-play goals, and Jonas Gustavsson and Jeremy Smith combined for 31 saves in the Boston Bruins' 2-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
John Hynes made his coaching debut for the Devils.
Irwin one-timed Ryan Spooner's cross-ice feed over Keith Kinkaid in the second period, and beat Scott Wedgewood with a slap shot in the third. Irwin signed a one-year, $800,000 free-agent deal with Boston after spending the last 2 1/2 seasons with San Jose,
Gustavsson made 18 saves, and Smith stopped 12 shots. Kinkaid made 12 saves for New Jersey, and Wedgewood stopped 11 shots.
