Predators shut down Stars
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Pekka Rinne posted 32 saves for his fifth shutout of the season as the Nashville Predators took a 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars.
Shea Weber, Nick Spaling, Gabriel Bourque and Rich Clune all scored for the Predators, who came into the game having lost four of their last five. David Legwand and Craig Smith added two assists each.
"We got a couple of power-play goals tonight and a little bit of balanced scoring," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz. "Had a good plan there. Second period, Rinne was outstanding, absolutely outstanding. Made some huge saves and then I thought in the third period we actually played OK."
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Kari Lehtonen gave up all four goals on 21 shots for the Stars, who have dropped their past two games.
"We needed to be a little bit better in a bunch of areas," said Dallas head coach Glen Gulutzan. "I thought early on we made a couple of young errors and some turnovers, especially with our defense in the back end. We need our big guys to step up when those situations happen and take control and we didn't do it."
The Predators got the only goal they needed with 7:44 to play in the first as Spaling's wrister from the left circle sailed over the glove of Lehtonen for his fourth of the season.
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It was a 2-0 game just 2:16 into the second as Nashville got one on the power play when Weber potted a rebound off a Legwand shot for his fourth of the season and first goal in eight games.
Clune made it a 3-0 game with a penalty shot goal as he beat Lehtonen between the pads. The shot was awarded when Clune was hooked by Jordie Benn on a breakaway.
Bourque's rebound goal came on the power play with 5:02 to play to cap the scoring.
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Game Notes
Dallas winger Ray Whitney returned to play after missing the previous 16 games with a hairline fracture on his foot ... It was Nashville's first penalty shot goal since Nov. 9, 2011, when Martin Erat scored one against Anaheim ... Nashville continues its five-game road trip in Vancouver on Thursday ... Dallas hosts Anaheim on Thursday ... The Preds have taken both games against the Stars this season, having won a 5-4 overtime tilt on Feb. 25 in Nashville ... Rinne has 30 shutouts in his career.