Cirelli, Lightning hold off Predators for fifth win in row

NASHVILLE -- Anthony Cirelli scored two goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning in their fifth straight win, 4-1 against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Monday.

Curtis McElhinney made 23 saves in his season debut for the Lightning (8-1-1), who will the play the Predators here again Tuesday.
"I think it was an ideal start for our team," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "To have as little work as [McElhinney] had in the first period (six shots) was probably good for him. And then we settled in as a team, and the only thing that really hurt us in this game was taking the penalties (3-for-4 on penalty kill)."
Dante Fabbro scored, and Pekka Rinne made 31 saves for Nashville (5-7-0), which has lost four of its past five games and seven of its past 10.
"It's frustrating for sure," Predators captain Roman Josi said. "It's such a short season and it's important to get off to a good start. Playing in your division the whole year, consistency is a huge thing. Like I said, that's something we need to figure out and we need to figure out quickly. It's got to come from us. We need to figure it out. We don't have any time to play inconsistently. We've got to find a solution quick."
Cirelli gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 9:07 of the first period, scoring on a sharp-angled slap shot from along the left boards.
Cirelli made it 2-0 at 13:02 of the second period when he scored on a rebound after Mikhail Sergachev's initial attempt hit the post on the power play.
"He also has to play against pretty formidable lines every single night," Cooper said. "He's spent a little bit of time in the League and now the offensive side of the game is coming. I think he's got a little more confidence on the power play and, I don't know, getting rewarded for playing a great 200-foot game. It's just a matter of time."

Fabbro scored his first of the season to cut it to 2-1 at 11:08 of the third period with a slap shot on the power play.
"We're certainly searching for reasons where we can be more consistent and trying to show them when we do it right what it requires, this is what needs to be done," Predators coach John Hynes said. "And then at times we do it. Sometimes we do it and we don't do it long enough. It seems like when we get behind, we do it more often and more consistently. If I had the answer to the riddle at this point then we'd be able to solve it, but it's on all of us to be able to solve it."
Blake Coleman (18:22) and Steven Stamkos (19:58) each scored into an empty net for the 4-1 final.
"I think the first couple periods were phenomenal on our end," McElhinney said. "We did a great job and got a lot of big blocks. A good job on the kill. They snuck one by at the end, but overall, just a great performance from the team."
NOTES:Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm missed the game because he and his wife are expecting a child. … The Lightning went back to 12 forwards and six defensemen in their lineup after playing the previous three games with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Forward Alexander Volkov came into the lineup for defenseman Cal Foote. … The Predators placed forward Ryan Johansen on injured reserve Monday. Hynes said Johansen is week to week and will be reevaluated at the end of this week.