Rinne makes 38 saves to help Predators get first win against Lightning

TAMPA -- Pekka Rinne made 38 saves for the Nashville Predators in a 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Monday.

Calle Jarnkrok had a goal and three assists for the Predators (12-16-1), who defeated the Lightning for the first time in six games this season (1-5-0) and ended a three-game losing streak.
Rinne rebounded after allowing five goals in a 6-3 loss to the Lightning on Saturday in the first of the two-game set.
"Everybody knows we've been struggling. It's a big win," Rinne said. "In the first game … it wasn't a great feeling. When you lose games, it can get tough on everybody. Considering Tampa Bay is one of the better teams, this is a big win for us. It can give us momentum and energy going forward."

Steven Stamkos scored for the Lightning (19-6-2), who lost at home for the first time in five games dating to a 6-4 loss to the Florida Panthers on Feb. 15. Curtis McElhinney made 22 saves on 25 shots.
"The way we played in the third, we were desperate, we were pushing the play," Tampa Bay forward Barclay Goodrow said. "We had control of the game. If we play like that from the [start], we would've put ourselves in a better spot heading into the third."
Eeli Tolvanen gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 3:58 of the second period when he scored with a one-timer from the left face-off circle inside the near post.
"We played really well in the defensive zone, we turned it up on defense," Tolvanen said. "Everybody came out and worked hard. It was a team effort."
Viktor Arvidsson made it 2-0 at 9:14 with a power-play goal.
Jarnkrok pushed the lead to 3-0 at 11:46 with a shorthanded goal. Brayden Point tried to knock down a clearing attempt, and Jarnkrok jumped on the loose puck and beat McElhinney on a breakaway.
"I think the whole lineup was playing good, playing the right way today," Jarnkrok said. "I thought the [rookies] had a great game. They played well last game too. That's what got us the two points."

Stamkos made it 3-1 at 10:03 of the third period.
"Everybody is like, 'Holy cow, you lose a game' … or the world's caving in," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "I look back at our last two losses. Scoring chances are nearly 2-to-1 (in Tampa Bay's favor), and we've had some pretty good zone time and we've done some good things. We just got beat. There have been some times this year that we probably have not played as well as the other team and won some games."
The Lightning kept up the pressure in the offensive zone, but Rinne made seven saves after Stamkos' goal.
"I thought we had a lot of chances. Their goalie played well," Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli said. "That's a good team over there. We were pushing it until the end there. We've just got to be a little bit better."
Mattias Ekholm made it 4-1 with an empty-net goal with 20 seconds remaining.
Rinne was credited with the second assist on Jarnkrok's goal.
"It's very impressive the way [Rinne] goes about his business," Predators coach John Hynes said. "The mental intensity you have to have every game to be the starting goal is impressive. It's so valuable to have him in and around our team, especially when you have a lot of young guys in the lineup.
"Here you have a guy, his jersey is going to be retired, he's won a Vezina Trophy (voted as the best goalie in the NHL) ... the way he competes. He's a special person. He's going to have a legacy with the Predators."