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Photos: Preds 7, Bolts 4
Video:  Game Highlights  
Video:  Spaling Post-Game  
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist each had a goal and an assist, and the Nashville Predators used a five-goal second period to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4 on Tuesday night.

Jerred Smithson, Ryan Jones, J.P. Dumont, Dan Hamhuis and Martin Erat also scored for Nashville, which set a season high for goals in a game, topping the six they had at Ottawa on Oct. 22.

Vincent Lecavalier had two goals and an assist, and Steven Stamkos and Kurtis Foster added goals for the Lightning.

Smithson gave Nashville a 1-0 lead 6:53 in. Legwand's wraparound shot was blocked, and Smithson gained control of the puck in traffic in the crease. He put a rebound past goalie Antero Niittymaki.

Stamkos tied it less than 5 minutes later when he skated by Shea Weber and then had the puck slipped off his stick into the net. He got the puck between the pads of Nashville's Pekka Rinne at 11:35.

Lecavalier struck on the power play with 3:30 left in the period to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead. Foster passed the puck to Lecavalier just above the right circle for a slap shot that beat Rinne to his glove side.

The Predators scored twice in the first 3 minutes to go ahead. Legwand's goal from in front at 1:12 tied it, and Jones put in a missed shot by Nick Spaling 1:45 later to make it 3-2.

Hornqvist's goal at 12:22 prompted Lightning coach Rick Tocchet to pull Niittymaki and replace him with Mike Smith. But Smith didn't fare any better as he allowed Dumont's goal 28 seconds after he got into the game.

Hamhuis capped off the second-period outburst with a slap shot from a few feet inside the blue line with 3:51 remaining to put the Predators ahead 6-2.

Foster cut the Lightning's deficit to three goals 1:52 into the third period with a power-play tally. Lecavalier made it 6-4 at 12:20.

Erat finished the scoring with 6:13 left.

NOTES: Jones has a goal in his last three games. ... Niittymaki had allowed four goals in a game four times this season, and twice in three days. Dumont hadn't scored since Nov. 28. ... Spaling, in his first game since being recalled from Milwaukee of the AHL, earned his first assist with the Predators. ... Nashville RW Joel Ward had two assists. The Predators are 11-0 this season when he registers a point.

POST-GAME QUOTES:
Head Coach Barry Trotz
On tonight’s numerous goals…
It was wide open. Both sides got some easy goals. I give a lot of credit to the guys – I was worried about this being a trap game. We got contributions throughout the lineup – every line on our team got a goal today. When you play back-to-back, it can sometimes be taxing. It was our third game in four nights. This time of year is a little tough. Hats off to [our players] – they responded in the second period, right off the bat, and opened the floodgates.

On controlling Tampa Bay’s speed…
One of the things I said in our meeting was, “Let’s be aware, not surprised.” They’re a quick team – they’ve got great forwards. I know some of them from Team Canada. A guy like Martin St. Louis has great speed; the young Steven Stamkos is an outstanding player. They’ve got good speed; they’ve got a quick team. When our legs weren’t moving in the first period, they looked really fast. We got our legs moving in the second and they didn’t look as fast.

On the recent play of Ryan Jones and Patric Hornqvist…
Jones has got 3 goals in 4 games. He goes to the net, and that’s where you’re going to score the goals. It’s the same with Patric Hornqvist. Patric actually got a couple of goals further out than he usually gets – he’s usually right in the blue paint. Guys are going to net and getting rewarded. It’s a good sign.

On holding a big lead…
You can’t defend like you used to. You used to stack the blueline and hook and hold, but you can’t do that anymore. You’ve really got to play the sixty minutes. Sometimes these games are really tough – the other team has a lot of pride, and they came back and really pushed the pace in the third period. You’ve got to play hard. You’ve got to skate; you’ve got to work. You’ve got to pay the price and do all the things you did earlier.

On whether Tampa Bay might surprise Nashville…
To me it was a little bit of a trap game. You’re not emotionally tied to the Tampa Bay team – we see them once a year.


Forward Ryan Jones:
On his recent success (three goals in three games)…
It feels good. They’ve all been right in front of the net – just where I like to be. Spaling made a great play; he drove wide and put a backhand low. Those rebounds are hard to control and I just sat there and banged it in. It’s always good for the confidence.

On tonight’s game…
It was a back-and-forth kind of game. In the first period I didn’t think we came out too great and they took advantage of us. They are great at making plays down low and burying their chances. I think we took it over in the second period. It’s hard when you’re up by that many goals but we have to find a way to come out and play just as hard going into the third. They got a couple but so did we in the third. It was an all around good game.


Forward Jerred Smithson:
On their confidence level after tonight’s game…
This game, right before the road trip, we had to get off to a good start. Going up to Edmonton, they’re going to be three tough games. Edmonton and Calgary both gave it to us pretty good here in our own barn. So we’re going to go up there and look for some redemption and play the same way we did tonight.

On the team’s effort as a whole…
It was huge. I was mentioning before that it is about time that we gave Sullivan, Arnott and Marty (Erat) some help. They’ve been doing a lot of our goal scoring lately. It is only a matter of time before teams start zoning in on them – then it will take a little bit from everyone. It’s a good momentum builder.


Forward Nick Spaling:
On playing in his first NHL game…
It was exciting. I was a little bit nervous but once I got the first couple of shifts out of the way I started to feel a little more comfortable. It was exciting and just great.

On the change in game pace between the NHL and AHL…
It’s faster. I think that was a fast team tonight too. A lot of speed from their team and they put a lot of pressure on us. It was a little bit different but I think I got used to it.

On scoring his first NHL point…
It was awesome. It was kind of a garbage goal with Jones going to the net. I was just happy to see it go in.