The Panthers have played six times in the last nine nights, so it's little wonder that the team is fading late in games.

Florida had another bad third period Saturday at Nashville as the Predators turned a 1-1 game into a 4-1 laugher by scoring three unanswered goals in the final period.

Toronto also scored three unanswered goals to win on Friday.

The Panthers have been struggling to hold onto leads lately, and some might blame their schedule. On Nov. 23, Florida led visiting Pittsburgh 2-0 going into the third before losing in overtime.

"Nashville played last night," Jordan Leopold said. "There's no excuse. We weren't sharp enough in the third period."

The Panthers have lost four straight games although they picked up points in two of those. The loss broke Florida's four-game road winning streak.

PREDATORS 4, PANTHERS 1: The Panthers tied the score in the second period on a Jordan Leopold goal, but that's all the offense they could muster as Nashville scored three unanswered in the final period. Backup goalie Scott Clemmensen started for Florida and was sharp early. Clemmensen ended up making 25 saves. Nashville's final goal of the night came into an empty net.

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