Predators 3, Devils 1
NEWARK, N.J. -- Goaltender Pekka Rinne turned aside 22 shots and defensemen Roman Josi scored two goals, leading the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night at the Prudential Center.
The victory enabled the Predators to improve to 3-0 overall for the second time in franchise history, joining the 2005-06 team, while the Devils dropped to 0-3 for only the second time in team history. They went 0-4 to start the 2001-02 season.
Left winger Eric Nystrom scored an empty-net goal in the closing minutes for Nashville.
Right winger Kyle Palmieri scored his first goal with the Devils on a power play late to cut the lead to 2-1 late in the third period.
Rinne, who became the all-time leader in games played by a Nashville goaltender with his start, wasn't seriously tested, as he kept the play in front of him for the entire game.
The Predators got on the board at 10:34 of the first period, soon after Devils winger Tuomo Ruutu took a tripping penalty. Just 33 seconds into the penalty, Predators defenseman Shea Weber carried the puck into the zone, faked the shot and passed it across the ice to Josi, who slapped it through the legs of Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid.
Kinkaid was solid in net for New Jersey, stopping 17 of 18 shots in vain.
The Predators took a penalty with 2:58 left, right after Kinkaid started moving out of the net. Center Cody Hodgson was called for holding, but the Devils had six skaters on the ice, but Josi fired the puck the length of the ice and into the net for the clincher.
NOTES: Devils G Cory Schneider was not with the team Tuesday night. He returned home to be with his wife, who gave birth to a baby boy named Wyatt. Schneider, the busiest goalie in the NHL last season with 69 starts, should be back in New Jersey in time for the game on Friday against San Jose. G Keith Kinkaid started in Schneider's place. Kinkaid was in goal Saturday night for the Devils' 5-3 loss to Washington. The Devils called up G Yann Danis in an emergency status to serve as Kinkaid's backup. ... The Devils assigned LW Reid Boucher to Albany (AHL). Boucher made the team out of training camp but did not see action in either of the team's first two games. ... Predators G Pekka Rinne took over the top spot on the franchise list for games played by a goaltender with 384, surpassing Tomas Vokoun. ... The Predators feasted on Eastern Conference teams last season, posting a 20-10-2 record.