Kings barely pester Rinne as Predators post shutout
Johansen powers Nashville offense
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Afterwelcoming Filip Forsberg back to the lineup, the Predators looked like the team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final last season.
Pekka Rinne made 19 saves, Forsberg had a goal and an assist, and Nashville beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-0 on Thursday.
Ryan Johansen had three assists, and Craig Smith, Calle Jarnkrok, Colton Sissons and Viktor Arvidsson also scored.
The Predators activated Forsberg off injured reserve earlier Thursday. He missed Nashville’s previous 11 games with an upper-body injury.
“It was maybe one of our best 60-minute efforts in a while,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said.
Making his first start since representing the Predators in Sunday’s All-star Game, Rinne earned his fifth shutout of the season and 48th of his career.
With play stayed largely in the other end, Rinne had a chance to enjoy the show put on by his teammates.
“I didn’t have a lot of work tonight, and that was just fun to watch our guys,” Rinne said. “Especially our forwards, they played a really strong game.”
At Edmonton, Alberta, J.T. Compher scored 2:28 into overtime after Connor Mcdavid tied it with the second of his two goals with 27 seconds left in regulation.
At Vancouver, British Columbia, Brenda Gaunce scored his second goal of the game with 2:58 left to back winner Jacob Markstrom, who had 26 saves.
At Ottawa, Ontario, Erik Karlsson scored 32 seconds into overtime to back Mike Condon, who had 30 saves, as Ottawa ended a six-game skid.
At New York, Curtis Mcelhinney stopped 25 shots in his seventh shutout and second this season as Toronto won its fourth straight.
At Buffalo, N.Y., Keith Yandle had a goal and two assists to back Harri Sateri, who stopped the final 19 shots he faced and 30 overall.
At Raleigh, N.C., Cam Ward had 27 saves in his 27th shutout and second this season as Montreal lost its third straight.
At Calgary, Alberta, Alex Killorn had two goals and two assists for Tampa Bay, which struck for five unanswered goals.
At Boston, Tuukka Rask made 32 saves while improving to 17-0-2 in his past 19 starts. Jake Allen had 43 saves for St. Louis.
At Newark, N.J., Nico Hischier scored on a deflection with 1:27 left to spoil goalie Alex Lyon’s first NHL start.
At Glendale, Ariz., Devin Shore had a goal and an assist during Dallas’ threegoal second period.
Avalanche 4, Oilers 3, OT — Canucks 4, Blackhawks 2 — Senators 2, Ducks 1, OT — Maple Leafs 4, Rangers 0 — Panthers 4, Sabres 2 — Hurricanes 2, Canadiens 0 — Lightning 7, Flames 4 — Bruins 3, Blues 1 — Devils 4, Flyers 3 — Stars 4, Coyotes 1 —