Source: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images North America

After a disheartening loss to the Bruins last Tuesday 5-3, the Predators spent a much needed Christmas break with friends and family before returning to home ice Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers, who are 14-14-6, currently sit in 5th within the Metropolitan Division, just eight points shy of Washington. Though their record does not compare to Nashville’s, Philadelphia’s bulk adds an advantage that the Predators do not have. The Flyers know how to put on the pressure and keep teams from scoring and Nashville has a hard time with pressure…

First Period:

• Filip Forsberg lit the lamp first at 9:41 for a rare Predators powerplay; his 14th goal of the season. Roman Josi (15) and Shea Weber (17) notched the assists.

Second Period:

• Claude Giroux would tie it up at 6:50 in the second for his 12th goal of the season.
• Seven minutes later at 13:57, Mike Fisher would notch the second powerplay goal of the night; his 4th goal of the season. Filip Forsberg (20) and Mike Ribeiro (20) would both assist.
• Not even a minute later, Colin Wilson, too, would collect a powerplay goal with a laser shot past Ray Emery; his 9th goal of the season. Seth Jones (7) and Roman Josi (16) would assist in the goal.

Third Period:

• Colin Wilson would tally his second goal of the night (10th of the season) on an empty-netter at 16:42. Mike Fisher (5) would do the assisting on Wilson’s goal.

With this cozy win, the Predators record now jumps to 23-9-2, but Nashville has no time to rest. Monday night, the Predators enter the United Center to face divisional rival, the Chicago Blackhawks, who are above the Predators in first (within the division) by two points. Without taking a breath, the Predators will return home to face another divisional rival, the St. Louis Blues, who sit just three points behind Nashville in the division. Sheesh. The question now will be, which game will Pekka have to take a seat and let Carter Hutton take the reins? Or will he even get a rest at all?