Green, Mrazek account for Red Wings' 1-0 win
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mike Green's goal and Petr Mrazek's 42 saves carried the Detroit Red Wings to a 1-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.
Green scored his 10th goal of the season on a wrister from the high slot at 18:30 of the first period that found its way through traffic at the goalmouth and appeared to tick off Pekka Rinne's catching glove before finding the net.
Mrazek (12-12-5) made it stick, his best save occurring early in the third period when he stoned Calle Jarnkrok on a two-on-one short-handed chance.
Detroit (22-21-9) won its second straight game after losing five in a row and swept the season series from Nashville (25-19-8) for the third straight season. The result snapped the Predators' six-game point streak at home dating to Jan. 3.
Rinne (20-14-6) made 18 saves, denying Darren Helm late in the third period on a breakaway to keep Nashville in contention.
Viktor Arvidsson came the closest to solving Mrazek late in the first period at the end of a four-on-one opportunity, but his backhander from the slot clanged off the crossbar.
The Predators pulled Rinne with 2:30 remaining in the game for an extra attacker while the sides played four-on-four after coincidental minors on the Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader and the Predators' Ryan Johansen but couldn't generate the equalizer.
Mrazek stopped 17 shots in the third period.
NOTES: Detroit D Brendan Smith (knee) returned to the lineup after missing the last 13 games. The Red Wings played without C Frans Nielsen (upper-body injury) and D Niklas Cronwall (upper-body injury). ... Nashville D Roman Josi (concussion) was activated from injured reserve after sitting out the previous nine games because of an illegal hit from Boston's Anton Blidh on Jan. 12. The Predators sent veteran C Mike Ribeiro to AHL Milwaukee after he cleared waivers. ... Detroit scratched D Ryan Sproul. ... Nashville scratches were D Anthony Bitetto, D Brad Hunt and C Derek Grant. ... The Predators recalled G Marek Mazanec from Milwaukee and sent G Juuse Saros down to get some work. Saros joined the Admirals in Grand Rapids, where he was scheduled to play against Red Wings G Jimmy Howard, who's starting a conditioning assignment. ... Nashville also acquired C Vernon Fiddler from New Jersey for a fourth-round pick. Fiddler, who made his NHL debut with the Predators in 2002, had a goal and two assists for the Devils in 39 games this season.