Florida wasted no time opening the scoring. On the power play, a severe defensive breakdown by the Predators left Sam Reinhart and Bennett alone in front of the Predators’ Juuse Saros (21 saves); Reinhart dropped the puck for Bennett to easily bury 1:23 into the contest.

Justin Sourdif scored his first NHL goal and the Florida Panthers beat the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Tuesday night. Sam Bennett had a goal, assist and fight for a Gordie Howe hat trick, and Gustav Forsling and Mackie Samoskevich also scored to help the Panthers win for the third time in four games.

Justin Sourdif, playing in just his fourth NHL game after being called up from AHL Charlotte on Monday, made a nice move to cut into Nashville’s zone and after a quick give-and-go with Jesper Boqvist, deflected a pass over Juuse Saros’ glove for his first NHL goal.

Aleksander Barkov had two assists and Spencer Knight made 18 saves for the Panthers (35-21-3), who have won three of their past four. Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk missed his second consecutive game because of a lower-body injury.

Forward Steven Stamkos, who signed a four-year deal with Nashville in the offseason, is currently in the longest point-less streak of his career — he has gone nine games without a point for the first time in his 17-year career.

Juuse Saros stood ... The scoring opened when Sam Malinski received a nifty behind-the-back pass from Jonathan Drouin and ripped a heavy slapshot past Saros for his second goal of the season.

Saros was brilliant in ensuring the home side would come away with a victory, and the only puck to get past him came on an absolute rocket from Sam Malinski early in the second period. Playing for ...

Justin Barron also scored and Juuse Saros made 31 saves for the Predators, winners of two straight. Sam Malinski scored and Scott Wedgewood made 15 saves for Colorado, who had their two-game winning streak snapped.

Sam Bennett scored an early goal and added a late ... Filip Forsberg led the Predators with four shots. Juuse Saros finished with 21 saves in the loss. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily ...