Rinne makes 26 saves, Predators shut out Wild

NASHVILLE -- Pekka Rinne made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 4-0 win for the Nashville Predators against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

The Predators (6-3-1) have won two in a row.
"Happy with the shutout," Rinne said. "It's not an everyday thing, so it feels good. After the first period, I thought that we regrouped and played a really solid two periods of hockey. That was enough tonight, and we played well and did what we needed to do. I think we played better defensively. I thought that was a gutsy game."
WATCH: [All Wild vs. Predators highlights]
The Wild (3-7-0), who outshot Nashville 13-4 in the first period, were denied a third straight victory.
"Just missed assignments that shouldn't be missed or trying to do too much, and it ends up going against us," Minnesota defenseman Jared Spurgeon said. "I think they should be easily correctable, but they're also things that shouldn't be happening."
Miikka Salomaki gave the Predators a 1-0 lead 37 seconds into the second period on a wrist shot on the rush. He received a pass from Colton Sissons and beat Wild goalie Alex Stalock from the right face-off circle.

Calle Jarnkrok gave the Predators a 2-0 lead with 28.3 seconds remaining in the second period on a wrist shot from the slot on the rush.
Craig Smith made it 3-0 at 6:58 of the third period from a shot in front of the net. He received a pass from Nick Bonino from along the boards.
"It's just a broken play," Smith said. "[Bonino] made a nice pass to get it over. It happens all game, so it's nice to get one. It was a good play by [Bonino]. He changed sides nice. I thought we sniffed all night and were able to get a couple of bounces in there as a group and create a little momentum. But overall I thought our game was great."
Sissons gave the Predators a 4-0 lead at 16:53 of the third period on a shorthanded breakaway.

"For the most part we've been doing a lot better job defensively," Rinne said. "That's the key in this League. I feel like we have enough scoring and if we keep defending and getting to loose pucks, I feel like we have enough skill to make things happen after that."
Nashville forward Matt Duchene left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. There was no update on his status after the game.
Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk missed the game because of an upper-body injury.
Predators forward Filip Forsberg missed his fourth consecutive game because of a lower-body injury.

They said it

"It was sort of a weird one on that play as well, and after that I thought we started to maybe press a bit too much and turn pucks over. And then I think halfway through the second it started to become more of an even game. Obviously that one in the last 30 seconds isn't ideal, going into the third thinking you're going to be down by one and it ends up being two. It's a lot harder to come back from that for sure. I thought we had a couple chances in the third, but again defensive miscues and they're in our net." -- Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon on playing well in the first period and being behind on the first shift of the second period
"We make adjustments during the game, and I think our coaches have done a great job on off days and practices of grabbing groups and correcting a few things. It's just to get it in your head. Not every play is going to be the same, but if it happens again it's correctable. I think our guys have done a good job of staying on it, but defense is won by energy and aggression. I think at times we've held that accountable for some stints." -- Predators forward Craig Smith on if he senses improvement in their effort on defense

Need to know

Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau said Dubnyk and forward Joel Eriksson Ek (lower-body injury) could play Saturday. … Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis's point streak ended at five games (nine assists).

What's next

Wild:Host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV)
Predators: At the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-TN, SUN, NHL.TV)