Predators 4, Panthers 3: Patric Hornqvist's power-play goal early in third period was the difference as host Nashville registered a season high in tallies.

Defenseman Shea Weber, Mike Fisher and Craig Smith each had a goal and an assist while Pekka Rinne made 22 saves as the Predators improved to 6-0-0 with two ties in their last eight home games against Florida.

Jonathan Huberdeau, Marcel Goc and defenseman Matt Gilroy scored for the Panthers, who have been outscored 23-6 in their five losses. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 26 shots in another rough outing and has surrendered 17 goals in his last four games.

Weber's bullet on a one-timer from the point was the lone goal of the opening period. Huberdeau charged down the middle to knot it at 1:16 of the second, deking both a defender and Rinne to notch his third goal. Fisher and Goc traded tallies 42 seconds apart to keep it tied at 2-2 after 40 minutes.

Smith put the Predators ahead to stay 82 seconds into the third, backhanding a rebound past Markstrom, and Hornqvist doubled the lead during a man advantage just under four minutes later. Gilroy was credited a goal when his pass deflected off David Legwand's stick and into the net with 8:23 left to cut the deficit to one, but Florida was unable to get the equalizer.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Fisher became the first Nashville player with more than one goal on the season before Hornqvist joined him with his power-play tally. ... It marked the first matchup between Panthers C Aleksander Barkov and Predators D Seth Jones, the second and fourth picks, respectively, in this year's draft. ... Panthers rookie C Nick Bjugstad, who suffered a concussion in early September, made his season debut but didn't record a shot in 9:48 of ice time.