Maple Leafs 2, Predators 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It took 65 minutes and five rounds of a shootout, but the Toronto Maple Leafs collected another impressive road win against a Central Division foe.
Center Peter Holland tallied the only shootout goal for either team as Toronto edged the Nashville Predators 2-1 at sold-out Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.
Goaltender James Reimer came up with 21 saves for the Maple Leafs, while goalie Pekka Rinne collected 22 for the Predators.
Toronto, which dumped Central Division leading Dallas 3-2 on Tuesday night, improved to 4-8-4. Nashville dropped to 9-3-3.
Nashville defenseman Shea Weber broke a scoreless tie at 2:40 of the third period with his fifth goal of the season, wristing a power-play shot from the left faceoff circle past Reimer off a nice diagonal pass from left winger James Neal.
Toronto answered just over three minutes later as center Tyler Bozak, charging down the slot, converted a feed from center Shawn Matthias for his second goal of the season at 5:52.
Neither team generated much of anything for two periods, combining for 26 shots on net and perhaps five Grade A chances. Toronto blocked 21 shots in the first 40 minutes and allowed just 12 shots to get to Reimer.
Nashville generated only one shot on goal during two early power plays in the second period and that came with a second remaining on the second man advantage.
The Maple Leafs actually had a couple of golden opportunities later in the period, but Rinne stoned left winger Joffrey Lupul both times, the second time on a rebound during a power play.
NOTES: Toronto scratched Ds Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin and RW Brad Boyes. ... Nashville scratched C Paul Gaustad (lower-body injury) and Ds Anthony Bitetto and Victor Bartley. ... Former Predators C Nick Spaling, who scored 40 goals in 297 games during five seasons with the team, started for the Maple Leafs. ... Nashville D Shea Weber skated in his 700th career game. ... The Predators signed fourth-round draft choice D Alexandre Carrier to a three-year, entry-league contract on Thursday. The 19-year-old has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 17 games with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.