Predators 2, Kings 1
PREDATORS 2, KINGS 1: Rookie Roman Josi and Patric Hornqvist scored goals as Nashville held off visiting Los Angeles.
Pekka Rinne turned aside 30 shots for his league-leading 35th win and the Predators beat the Kings for the first time in the last four meetings in Nashville.
David Legwand assisted on both goals to help the Predators improve to 4-0-1 in their last five overall and 17-2-2 in the last 21 games at Bridgestone Arena.
Rinne had his shutout bid spoiled when Dustin Brown scored with 3:24 left for the Kings, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
Josi, coming off his first career two-point game Saturday, staked Nashville to a 1-0 lead at 18:27 of the first period with a wrister from the blue line that appeared to deflect off a stick of a Kings player and past netminder Jonathan Quick.
Hornqvist made it 2-0 at 3:52 of the second, pouncing on Legwand's shot that caromed off the backboards and drilling a shot past Quick.
Brown gave the Kings life with his fourth goal in two games, beating Rinne through a screen after fanning on his initial shot.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Predators were among the biggest movers at Monday's trade deadline, acquiring C Paul Gaustad from the Buffalo Sabres for a first-round draft pick. Nashville also received a fourth-round pick in the deal. The Predators also traded for Montreal forward Andrei Kostitsyn in exchange for a second-round pick and conditional fifth-round selection. The deal reunites Kostitsyn with his brother, Sergei.