Predators 6, Thrashers 3
Sergei Kostitsyn and Jordin Tootoo collected two goals and an assist apiece as the Nashville Predators skated to a 6-3 home victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday night.
The Predators, who have won eight of their last 10, moved into the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference with the win. Pekka Rinne made 33 saves as Nashville is on the brink of returning to postseason for the sixth time in eight seasons.
This one wasn’t much of a contest, with the Predators getting three goals in the first period from Matt Halischuk, Tootoo and Kostitsyn. Tootoo’s second tally added to the cushion and chased goalie Chris Mason in the second.
Kostitsyn made it 5-0 with his 22nd of the season at 2:28 of the third, before Thrashers forward Blake Wheeler finally snapped the shutout 38 seconds later. Wheeler added another and Nik Antropov tallied to make the final score respectable.
Mason stopped just nine of 13 shots for Atlanta, which was eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend.