Rinne, Predators shut out Devils

Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and the Nashville Predators defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-0 at Prudential Center on Thursday.

The Predators (29-11-7) are 6-0-2 in their past eight games and 13-7-4 on the road.
"I think we've kind of put our head down," Nashville forward Craig Smith said. "I mean we've racked up quite a few points here coming off of our six-day]*
The Devils (24-16-8) are 0-4-0 in their past four games and 2-7-3 in their past 12.
"This has gone on too long," New Jersey forward Brian Boyle said. "We haven't scored a goal at home, and it's a bad taste in our mouth for a few days. It's extremely, extremely frustrating when we have some injuries to not be able to produce and to not be able as an individual to try and raise the game and will our way to some offense or a win. It's just a lot of missed opportunities."

Devils goaltender Ken Appleby made 24 saves in his first NHL start. Cory Schneider, the No. 1 goalie, injured his groin against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, and backup Keith Kinkaid (groin) was placed on injured reserve Sunday.
"He was in control, he's calm, he's confident it looks like," Boyle said. "He's a big boy and he's got a great attitude. He's played well and he deserves better."
P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal and an assist for Nashville.
"Of the last 14 points, I think we've collected 13 of them so that's a good streak," Rinne said. "A strong finish before the little (All-Star) break, but now the season really starts. We've got to be happy with the way we've been playing."
Subban gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 9:48 of the second period on a one-timer from the point. Ekholm fed him off a face-off win by Ryan Johansen. Subban (12 goals) has scored in three consecutive games.

"I think we've always been good defensively and played hard and tough, and I feel like we have good offense too," Arvidsson said. "We kind of mix it up, and I feel like we're doing a great job right now."
Appleby's shutout streak to begin his NHL career ended at 94:24.
Ekholm made it 2-0 at 5:36 of the third period on a shot from the point. Arvidsson drove to the net and screened Appleby, and Ekholm shot it through traffic for his seventh goal.
Arvidsson gave the Predators a 3-0 lead at 15:11 on a slap shot while shorthanded. On a 2-on-1 rush with Colton Sissons, he beat Appleby above his left shoulder for his 15th goal.
"I feel like we pressure hard," Arvidsson said. "We're tight in the box and just aggressive I think. The other teams are trying to score real hard so when you get the chance … you've got to be ready."
New Jersey forward Taylor Hall missed his third consecutive game with a right thumb injury, but the Devils hope he'll be ready after the four-day All-Star break, which begins Friday.
Boyle, who was diagnosed with leukemia in September, will replace Hall in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Tampa on Sunday, his first.

Goal of the game

Subban's goal at 9:48 of the second period.

Save of the game

Rinne's save on Boyle at 10:51 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Arvidsson's goal at 15:11 of the third period.

They said it

"I thought we got a lot of good looks. I thought we stayed with it. We tried to really take care of the puck in the middle. We were trying to just take care of it, use the outside, use speed and try and get it behind them because their lock is tough to get through." -- Predators forward Craig Smith
"I'm very, very honored. It's difficult because [Hall] has carried us a lot of the year. He's had a phenomenal season. He's a great teammate, a great player and a good person so we feel for him because he really should be representing us. But it's an honor. I spoke with my wife about it, my dad. So it's pretty cool. I know a lot of stars kind of had to move around. I found out this morning, and it'll be fun to go back to Tampa and see all those great players on the ice." -- Devils forward Brian Boyle, who played for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2014-17, on going to the All-Star Game

Need to know

Predators forward Nick Bonino won 14 of 18 face-offs. … Kinkaid participated in the morning skate.

What's next

Predators: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, NBCSCH, NHL.TV)
Devils: At the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, MSG-B, NHL.TV)