After a disappointing result two nights ago, the Predators once again looked like the team that dominated opponents on the power play before Shea Weber went down with a concussion.
Four of Nashville's five goals came on the power play after it had hit a cold streak with the captain out of the lineup.
Ryan Ellis also notched his first career NHL assist and, later, goal.
It was a fun night for the record-setting eighth straight sellout crowd at Bridgestone Arena, as several Predators had big games.
Video highlights and other various thoughts from the big win after the jump:
- Man, how we've missed Weber's slapshot, huh? The captain got the scoring started with one of his trademark blasts from the blue line after a nice set up from Kostitsyn and Erat.
- And speaking of missing players, how about Craig Smith? It was great to see the Honey Badger get back on the board in the first period. Legwand sent a nice cross-ice pass over to Smith who lasered it in for Nashville's first power play goal of the game.
- It was hard to tell exactly what happened on the third goal, but it was clear that Ryan Ellis set it all up on the power play. Ellis let it rip from the point, Fisher controlled the rebound, and then beat Peters in front, with Hornqvist screening him. They changed the scoring from Fisher to Hornqvist, saying he tipped the puck in front, but either way, Ellis got his first career NHL point with the assist. But Ellis was not done. Stay tuned...
- The fourth goal was a classic Hornqvist goal. After getting shoved down in the crease, Hornqvist was able to swat the loose puck in with his stick after multiple attempts by Carolina to cover it.
- The beloved Swede was denied a hat trick, however, after the war room in Toronto determined that he kicked in a rebound try, and didn't touch it with his stick. It was a tough call, but a quick look at the overhead camera angle showed pretty clearly that it was the right call.
- Boy does Ellis have some shot. On Nashville's fifth power play of the night, Ellis took another rip and this time found the back of the net for his first career NHL goal. Jack Hillen was scratched tonight in favor of Ellis, and after tonight's game, you've got to think Ellis is here to stay.
- For all of the great offensive performances, Pekka Rinne was superb in net, and made a couple of huge saves late in the game, including a sprawling glove save that will be shown on highlight reels at the end of the year.