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Smithson's late goal lifts Predators past Panthers

Oct 28, 2007 - 3:57 AM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Radek Bonk and the Nashville Predators spoiled Tomas Vokoun's return to his old stomping grounds.

Bonk scored a goal and set up Jerred Smithson's game-winner with 12.2 seconds remaining as the Predators skated to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday.

Bonk wheeled around the net and threw a backhander in front. The puck hit Smithson, who was laying in the crease, and trickled past Vokoun and into the net, giving the Predators the win.

"I'm not going to lie - I didn't even know it hit me and went in," Smithson said. "Bonky made a great play coming from behind the net, I just went to the net, fell down, and I was lucky enough to have it bounce off of me."

"I don't know what the reason is for why this is happening," Vokoun said. "We basically give games away night after night. We are just shooting ourselves in the foot at the worst possible times, and there is just no reason for it."

Vernon Fiddler also scored two goals for the Predators, who won their second straight contest after six straight losses.

"When there are rebounds, I need to be there at the front of the net to keep banging at it," Fiddler said. "On the second goal, Alexander (Radulov) made a great play to get me the puck and I was able to bang it in."

Vokoun, who holds the Predators' club records among goaltenders in games played, wins and shutouts, was traded to Florida in the offseason in a move to shed salary while the franchise was for sale. The 31-year-old netminder made 29 saves in his first game as an opponent against Nashville.

Counterpart Dan Ellis, who posted his first career shutout against Atlanta on Thursday, made 24 saves in recording his second win of the season.

"It was nice to get a win and it was nice to see our guys play well, especially with one of their buddies at the other end of the ice," Ellis said.

Captain Olli Jokinen scored two goals for the second time in three games for the Panthers, who have lost four of their last five.

Jozef Stumpel scored the game's first goal on a penalty shot at 10:14 of the opening period. His wrist shot just slipped between the pads of Ellis.

Florida was awarded the penalty shot when Predators defenseman Greg Zanon fell on the puck in the crease. The Panthers were on a power play at the time, giving Stumpel credit for his second man-advantage goal of the season.

Fiddler and Bonk tallied in the second period to give Nashville a 2-1 lead, but Jokinen tied the contest with 47 seconds left in the second.

After Fiddler gave Nashville a 3-2 edge just over three minutes into the third, Jokinen's second goal of the game again forged a tie. On a two-man advantage, the Finn fired a slap shot from just above the right faceoff circle that sailed by Ellis for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

"I thought the third period was probably our best," Florida coach Jacques Martin said. "We outshot them in the third and had some good opportunities."

The Panthers went 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Predators came up empty in seven chances with the man advantage.

"We lost the special-teams war a little bit. They seemed good on theirs," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "Finding a way to win, getting goals the hard way and getting a goal late in the game, those things are all positives for the group."