Zuccarello, Brassard have 2 assists each; Rangers hand Preds season-worst 3rd straight loss

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard both had two assists, and the New York Rangers rebounded from a rare regulation loss and sent the NHL-leading Nashville Predators to their season-worst third straight defeat, 4-1 on Monday night.

Marc Staal, Chris Kreider, Dominic Moore and Rick Nash had goals for the Rangers to make it a successful debut for defenceman Keith Yandle, acquired Sunday from Arizona. Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots to improve to 9-2-2 in place of injured No. 1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who turned 33 on Monday.

The Rangers, 12-2-2 in their past 16 games, moved into a tie with the Islanders atop the Metropolitan Division.

Zuccarello had a big game shortly after the Rangers announced he agreed to a four-year contract extension.