Predators 4, Penguins 0
Carter Hutton turned aside 21 shots for his second career shutout and defenseman Roman Josi scored and set up a goal as Nashville breezed to victory in James Neal's return to Pittsburgh.
Josi and Gabriel Bourque scored 2 1/2 minutes apart early in the first period for the Predators, who avenged a 3-0 setback to the Penguins on Oct. 25 and snapped a five-game winless skid versus Pittsburgh. Eric Nystrom tallied late in the second, Mike Fisher added a power-play goal in the third and rookie Filip Forsberg notched a pair of assists in the rout.
Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 20 saves for the Penguins, who have dropped six of their last eight games (2-4-2) and were shut out for the fifth time this season. Nick Spaling, who joined Patric Hornqvist in being acquired in the draft-day deal for Neal, provided Pittsburgh its best scoring opportunity when he hit the post in the second period.
Hutton highlighted his first shutout of the season by making 11 saves in the second period and improved to 3-1-2 in the absence of Pekka Rinne (knee). The 29-year-old Ontario native recorded his other blanking after turning aside 35 shots in a 3-0 win over San Jose on April 5.
Penguins defenseman Simon Despres scored the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory over New Jersey on Friday, but endured a difficult start in this one. Josi's slap shot from the point deflected off Despres' shin pad and past Fleury at 4:05 before his attempted pass behind the net sailed right to Bourque, who made no mistake from in close at 6:38.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Nashville LW Taylor Beck stripped captain Sidney Crosby of the puck and Nystrom made a nifty move before backhanding the puck past Fleury to give the Predators a 3-0 lead with 41 seconds remaining in the second period. Fisher benefited from a double screen in front to cap the scoring 8:20 into the third. ... Neal, who spent three-plus seasons with the Penguins, did not register a shot on goal in 15:09 of ice time ... Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin missed his fifth straight game due to a lower-body injury.