Predators 2, Flames 0
Pekka Rinne made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season - and first career win against Calgary - as the Nashville Predators blanked the host Flames 2-0 Saturday evening.
Rinne atoned for a miserable effort two nights ago in which he was pulled after allowing four goals in the first period of a loss to Vancouver. The Finland native came into Saturday 0-4-2 with a 3.15 goals-against average all-time against the Flames, the only Western Conference team he had yet to beat.
After a scoreless first period short on scoring chances, Nashville opened the scoring 2:34 into the second frame. A Jack Hillen shot deflected off Calgary defenseman David Moss before hitting Niclas Bergfors in the chest and bouncing into the net.
Calgary's best chance came near the midway point of the third period. A Jarome Iginla centering attempt slid between Rinne's pads and right to Olli Jokinen, whose shot an open net was blocked by the stick of Predators defenseman Jonathon Blum.
Sergei Kostitsyn put the game out of reach with just over five minutes left in the period after a bad Calgary pinch resulted in a Nashville 2-on-1. Craig Smith beat the defender and made a pinpoint pass to Kostitsyn, whose tap-in eluded the paddle of Calgary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff's stick.
The Flames have dropped three of four.