Predators, Rinne shut down Oilers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some players just have an opponent's number.
Take Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne against the Edmonton Oilers, for example.
Rinne won his eighth straight start against Edmonton, dating to 2014, as he stopped 31 shots for his 42nd career shutout on Thursday night in a 2-0 win at Bridgestone Arena.
Rinne (20-13-6) blanked the Oilers (28-17-8) for the third time during that stretch, registering his second shutout of the season. All but four of his saves came in the last two periods as Edmonton pressed the attack to no avail.
His toughest saves might have occurred consecutively in the second period as defenseman Oscar Klefbom had three quality chances in the slot, all of which were denied. Rinne also made a big pad save off a point-blank backhander from Mark Letestu in the first period.
Both Nashville goals occurred in the second period, the products of good work by the first line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson.
At 1:26, Johansen sent Arvidsson down the right wing with plenty of ice in front of him. Arvidsson sped to the faceoff circle and ripped a slapper over the right shoulder of Cam Talbot (26-14-7) for his 13th goal of the season.
Johansen added the second goal at 19:21, finishing an exquisite passing sequence that started with Forsberg dangling in the high slot and conveying the puck to Arvidsson on the right wing.
Arvidsson's cross-ice feed to Johansen in the left faceoff circle led to a wrister into an open net, Johansen's ninth goal of the season.
The Predators (25-18-8) won for the eighth time in 11 games and have picked up points in six straight home games dating to Jan. 3.
Talbot finished with 25 saves for Edmonton, which started a three-game trip that continues Friday night at Carolina and on Sunday in Montreal.
It was the Oilers' second straight loss after earning points in their last eight games before the All-Star break.
NOTES: Edmonton LW Milan Lucic played his 700th career game. He has played more games than anyone drafted in 2006, when he was tabbed in the second round, except Phil Kessel (799), Jordan Staal (731) and Nicklas Backstrom (702). ... Nashville D Roman Josi (concussion) skated at practice Thursday morning but missed his ninth straight game. ... The Oilers scratched C Anton Lander, LW Jujhar Khaira and D Eric Gryba. ... Predators scratches were D Brad Hunt, C Derek Grant and C Mike Ribeiro.