Predators 3, Coyotes 0
Pekka Rinne made 19 saves for his second straight shutout and third in his last four starts as host Nashville avenged an early-season loss to Phoenix.
Rinne, who stopped 32 shots against Los Angeles last Thursday and 25 against San Jose on Tuesday, hasn’t allowed a goal in his last 135 minutes, 33 seconds. Gabriel Bourque, Nick Spaling and Mike Fisher scored third-period goals for the Predators.
Mike Smith made 26 saves for the Coyotes, who defeated Nashville 4-0 at home on Jan. 28. Phoenix was held without a goal for the first time this season.
After neither team could score through two periods, Martin Erat’s centering attempt on a power play early in the third deflected off Bourque’s skate and past Smith to give Nashville the lead. Spaling fired a high wrist shot from the right faceoff dot that eluded Smith’s glove to extend the lead midway through the period.
Rinne robbed former teammate Steve Sullivan with his glove on a backhand shot with just under four minutes remaining to preserve his 28th career shutout. Shortly after, Fisher made it 3-0 when he one-timed defenseman Ryan Ellis’ pass from the slot for his second goal of the season.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rinne has five shutouts in 16 career starts against Phoenix. … Coyotes D Keith Yandle had a team-high four shots. … Nashville finished 1-for-2 on the power play, scoring with the man advantage for the first time in four games.