Red Wings 3, Predators 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Detroit Red Wings started a stretch of nine road games in their next 10 contests Saturday night by getting a fourth-line goal to break a third-period tie and earn a win.
Center Luke Glendening's deflection of a shot by defenseman Brendan Smith at 6:45 gave Detroit a 3-2 decision over the Nashville Predators at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.
It was just the second goal of the season for Glendening, enabling the Red Wings (18-10-7) to sweep the season series from Nashville (17-12-6). It happened 35 seconds after the Predators killed off a Red Wings' power play.
Goalie Petr Mrazek (11-6-3) stopped 24 shots for Detroit, while goalie Pekka Rinne (14-10-6) made 20 saves for Nashville, which saw its two-game winning streak end.
The Predators applied fierce pressure in the last 90 seconds after lifting Rinne for a sixth attacker, but Mrazek and the Red Wings' defense were up to the challenge. Mrazek made four clutch saves in that span, including a tip try by center Paul Gaustad, and his teammates blocked two others to preserve the victory.
Detroit initiated the scoring at 5:34 of the first period when defenseman Brendan Smith rifled a one-timer from the right wing past goalie Pekka Rinne. The goal, set up by a cross-ice feed from defenseman Alexey Marchenko, was Smith's second of the season.
Nashville equalized 45 seconds later when left winger Filip Forsberg finished a 3-on-2 rush by wristing a 25-footer from the left faceoff circle past goalie Petr Mrazek for his eighth goal of the season. Center Mike Ribeiro drew the only assist.
The Red Wings took their second lead at 2:55 of the second period with a power-play goal by center Riley Sheahan. Pouncing on the rebound of a point blast by Richards, Sheahan scored for the second time in as many games and for the fifth time this season.
Predators right winger Craig Smith tied it at 17:11 off a faceoff win by Ribeiro, beating the screened Mrazek with a wrister for his eighth goal of the season.
NOTES: Detroit C Dylan Larkin (upper-body injury) missed his first game of the season. Larkin leads the team in goals (13) and is second in points (24). ... Nashville C Mike Fisher (lower-body injury) remains on injured reserve but did participate in morning skate. ... The Red Wings scratched D Jonathan Ericsson. ... The Predators scratched LW Austin Watson and Ds Anthony Bitetto and Petter Granberg.