Predators at Islanders
THE STORY: Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators are
as stingy as a conservative uncle, but there is no discounting their
success as of late. Last season's Vezina Trophy finalist has surrendered
just 16 goals in his last eight contests, good enough to allow the
Predators to win four straight and seven in that stretch. As modest as
he is talented, Rinne credited his teammates for the club's good
fortune. "It comes down to playing a full 60 minutes," Rinne told the
Tennessean. "We've had nights where we play 40 minutes and it's not
enough, but now we've been playing more solid, a full 60 minutes."
Despite being in fourth place in the Central, Nashville sits just six
points behind the front-running Chicago Blackhawks. Rinne and the
Predators will look to continue their winning ways on Monday afternoon
when they visit the New York Islanders. For its part, New York has
posted a 2-1-0 mark on its current four-game homestand.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CHLCA, FSTN
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (25-15-4): Nashville opened a
three-game stretch against Atlantic Division foes on a positive note by
doubling up the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Saturday. After visiting the
Islanders on Monday, they'll tackle the Eastern Conference-leading
Rangers at Madison Square Garden the following day. D Ryan Ellis' hip
check on Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds was all the rage on Twitter, as
the latter went head over skates to the ice. "Just a strong play by
(Ellis)," Rinne said. "It was a key play. He had a long reach (and
Simmonds) was trying to go around him. Just an old-school hip-check, and
fun to watch."
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (16-20-6): Franchise goaltender
Rick DiPietro is expected to undergo sports hernia surgery on Tuesday
and will miss 10 weeks, the team announced. Signed to a 15-year
contract, DiPietro has played in just 47 games over the last four
seasons due to a myriad of injuries (knee, hip, concussion, facial
fractures). Making his 11th straight start, G Evgeni Nabokov turned
aside 23 shots to collect his 300th career win in Saturday's 4-2 triumph
over the Buffalo Sabres. The 36-year-old Russian has fared well versus
Nashville, posting a 14-8-1 career mark with one tie and two shutouts.
OVERTIME:
1. Islanders C John Tavares has four goals and 11 assists during his
eight-game point streak. The All-Star has yet to crack the scoresheet in
two career games versus the Predators.
2. Nashville has won six of the last seven meetings between the teams,
including a 5-0 triumph at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 13, 2010. The
Islanders haven't defeated the Predators since April 11, 2002.