Pekka Rinne, Predators shut out Ducks

NASHVILLE -- Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for his first shutout and James Neal scored two goals in a 5-0 win for the Nashville Predators against the Anaheim Ducks at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
Rinne has allowed four goals in his past four games. The Predators have points in six consecutive games.
"It's ups and downs, but my main goal is just to be consistent and be able to maintain a level where I feel like I'm playing my best game every single night," Rinne said. "This home stretch has been really good for me and for my teammates. Hopefully we can keep it going. We haven't been great on the road so far, but hopefully now we have a chance to improve our record and also our play, too."

WATCH: All Ducks vs. Predators highlights
Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf played in his 800th career game.
"[Rinne] did a good job, and their group did a good job in front of him of clearing those second opportunities," Getzlaf said. "I thought we did a good job early of getting penetration, getting to the net, doing those things, but we just couldn't get one by him."
Ryan Ellis gave the Predators a 1-0 lead with 2.4 seconds remaining in the first period on a one-timer from below the left faceoff circle. Forward Filip Forsberg made a pass from behind the Ducks net and Ellis beat Ducks goalie John Gibson for his second goal.
Neal made it 2-0 at 12:13 of the second period on a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle. Forward Viktor Arvidsson won the faceoff back to Neal, who beat Gibson for his fifth goal.

"I think something we said is just every guy work and do your job," Neal said. "If to a man everyone [is] a little better, then our team will get going. That's what's happened, and a little puck luck, too. The bounces are starting to go our way a bit, and that comes with work."
Colton Sissons made it 3-0 at 15:53 on a shorthanded goal.
Forsberg scored his first goal of the season, a one-timer from the left faceoff circle, at 17:00. He scored 33 goals in the 2015-16 season. Following the goal, the Ducks pulled Gibson and replaced him with Jonathan Bernier.
"It was obviously fun to score a goal, especially in this game," Forsberg said. "It was a great effort from everyone and obviously a big win."
Neal scored his second of the game at 6:06 of the third period from the slot on the power play. Defenseman Roman Josi took a shot from the point and Neal got the rebound and shot it past Bernier.
Neal has five goals in the past four games.

Goal of the game

Sissons scored a shorthanded goal after Arvidsson won a battle for the puck behind the Ducks net and passed the puck to Sissons, who one-timed it past Gibson for his first goal.

Save of the game

Rinne made a pad save on Ducks forward Corey Perry in the first period from below the left faceoff circle. Rinne closed off the post and controlled the rebound to prevent another scoring chance.

Unsung moment of the game

Predators forward Ryan Johansen was kicked out of the faceoff circle before Neal's first goal. Arvidsson, a left wing, stepped in and won the faceoff back to Neal, who scored.

Highlight of the game

Ducks defenseman Yannick Weber got the puck to Johansen in the offensive zone, and Johansen made a cross-ice pass that Forsberg was able to one-time in stride for his first goal.

They said it

"The way he works on the ice, every shift he leaves everything out there. It's inspiring if you watch him. He accounts for every stride. He accounts for every puck battle. He's not the biggest guy on the ice, but yet you wouldn't know it by the way he plays the game and the determination that he plays the game. He earns everything he gets on the ice." - Predators coach Peter Laviolette on forward Viktor Arvidsson

Need to know

Perry had seven shots on goal for the Ducks on nine shot attempts. … Rinne is 4-0-2 in November with a 1.14 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage.

What's next

Anaheim: Home against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SNOL, PRIME, NHL.TV)
Nashville: At the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-TN, TVA Sports, SNO, NHL.TV)