Islanders 3, Predators 1
Kevin Poulin made 32 saves and captain John Tavares had a goal and an assist as host New York halted a four-game losing skid.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Kyle Okposo added goals for the Islanders, who defeated Nashville for just the second time in 10 meetings. Frans Nielsen added a pair of assists.
Patric Hornqvist scored with 5:30 remaining in regulation as the Predators narrowly avoided becoming the first team since the Phoenix Coyotes of last March to be shut out in three consecutive games. Marek Mazanec stopped 30 shots in his first NHL start.
Tavares kicked things off on a New York power play at 15:30, gathering Nielsen's pass between the hashmarks and firing a shot that beat Mazanec. Bouchard doubled the lead 1:53 later after his wrist shot from a sharp angle eluded Mazanec on the short side.
Okposo made it a 3-0 game 7:07 into the middle period, skating down the off wing and one-timing Tavares' pass past Mazanec. The Islanders made the lead stand - overcoming Hornqvist's first goal in seven games - but briefly lost Tavares midway through the third period after he lost an edge and crashed into the boards. Tavares returned shortly thereafter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Predators captain Shea Weber has a minus-7 rating over his last four games. ... Nashville was 8-0-1 in its previous nine games against the Islanders. ... New York F Thomas Vanek missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury.