Pekka Rinne
The Nashville Predators moved to within one point of first place in the Central Division with a 3-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
Pekka Rinne made 22 saves in his fourth shutout of the season for the Predators (42-27-5), who trail the Winnipeg Jets.
“Really good defense,” Rinne said. “Against a team like that, you’ve got to do it, not only the defensemen, but the forwards as well, as a unit of five. They did a really good job all night.”
The Maple Leafs (43-25-5), who are 1-4-0 in their past five games, trail the Boston Bruins by six points for second place in the Atlantic Division.
“I think we understood the way they play,” Toronto forward Auston Matthews said. “I mean, the shots were [22-20], so we know they don’t give up much. I don’t think we necessarily gave up much either. They capitalized on some opportunities. Obviously, that goal there for them in the first was pretty big. We had some opportunities. Their goalie came up big, but I think we understood the way they play and how they don’t really give up much.”
Brian Boyle gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 4:47 of the first period with a one-timer from the slot on a give-and-go with Craig Smith.
“I gave it to [Smith] so he could shoot,” Boyle said. “I tried to pump fake to get him the open shot, and he must have seen that the [defense] was cheating on him a little bit. He gives it right back, and it was right in the wheelhouse. It was perfect, so it would’ve been hard to mess that one up.”
Wayne Simmonds gave the Predators a 2-0 lead at 9:13 of the third period. Ryan Ellis retrieved the puck in the right corner and made a cross-ice pass to Simmonds, who tapped it past goalie Frederik Andersen for his first goal for Nashville.
“I thought I was never going to score again,” said Simmonds, who played his ninth game for the Predators since being acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 25. “No, it went in the net. I think most importantly we got the two points and we played really well as a team. A strong, 60-minute effort. I think from the net out, we were good tonight.”
Filip Forsberg scored an empty-net goal with 2:09 left to make it 3-0.
“I think we’re starting to jell,” Simmonds said. “We’ve added a few pieces, myself included, [Boyle, Cody McLeod, Mikael Granlund], a bunch of guys. I think for us, we just needed to jell. I think we’ve had a little bit of time, we’ve had some practice time together. I think we’re only going to continue to get better.”
“To be honest, I think guys are just starting to work harder as a team. Everyone. All five guys on the ice. Like, [Ryan Johansen] blocked a shot at the end. That’s huge. It may not happen every night, but guys are sacrificing. As you get into playoffs, everyone is going to have to do the little things, whether it be blocking shots, good stick lifts, taking hits to make plays. Whatever it is, everyone’s got to do it. I think the last three games have been a good sign of that.” — Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis
The Predators shut out the Maple Leafs each of their two games this season (4-0 in Toronto on Jan. 7). … Nashville forward Kyle Turris returned to the lineup after he was a healthy scratch the previous two games.
Up next, the Predators host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night at the Bridgestone Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 PM, Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of that game immediately following our broadcast of Coffee County baseball.
Willy Daunic’s Postgame Report
