Predators 3, Devils 1

G Pekka Rinne took over the top spot on the franchise list for games played by a goaltender with 384, surpassing Tomas Vokoun.

New Jersey had the first five shots of the period but could not dent Rinne before the Predators reverted to their usual stifling defensive style and allowed the Devils only one more before the second intermission.

Preds defenseman Roman Josi tallied twice, including a one-timer from above the right face-off circle in the first period to put the visitors ahead 1-0 on the power play.

G Pekka Rinne passed Tomas Vokoun for the most all-time appearances by a goalie in Predators’ franchise history. Jones allowed a goal on the first shot he faced this season, but has blanked opponents for the following 178 minutes, 11 seconds.

Ribeiro, Neal and Wilson – who should easily already be on the board a handful of times – haven’t found the back of the net yet, but it’s not because they haven’t had the opportunity to do so.

Rinne lost his shutout when Kyle Palmieri scored on a power play with 1:40 left.

Keith Kinkaid stopped 17 shots for the Devils.

The Predators are 0-5 in their last 5 road games and 11-4 in their last 15 games playing on 2 days rest.

For the second game in a row, Nashville showed lots of promising points during its game against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, however failed to really set anything ablaze offensively. “Yes, we’re 3-0-0, but I think we didn’t play that well tonight, especially in the second period; they outplayed us pretty badly”.

It’s easier said than done to say that a player needs to convert on a two-on-one, connect on a breakaway or finish a one-timer that slides to their stick, but the Predators collectively have had plenty of those chances and so far found themselves unable to do so.

Craig Smith has proved he is a fast starter. Besides the fact that Watson should find himself factoring into Nashville’s already overworked penalty kill unit, I’ve got a hunch he finds himself on the scoreboard as well. “We’re not frustrated. We have to keep pushing forward to get the first win”.

Things opened up at the end when Nashville’s Cody Hodgson was whistled for holding with 2:58 remaining.

Kinkaid left for an extra attacker and Josi hit the empty net for a 2-0 lead with Rinne assisting at 17:21.

Kinkaid was still on the bench when Nystrom closed out the scoring with 51.5 seconds left. The Nashville scratches were defensemen Anthony Biletto, Victor Bartley and LW Viktor Arvidsson….

F Reid Boucher was assigned to Albany of the American Hockey League.