Nashville Predators snap four game losing streak, shutout Calgary Flames 2-0 -NHL Match Update
Nashville had won only two games to start off the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, losing the next four to make them one of the lowest ranked teams in the conference. The Predators finally bounced back with the help of Pekka Rinne to
shutdown the Calgary Flames, 2-0, on Saturday at the sold-out Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Losing the first two of their Canadian road trip against Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, it was crucial to rebound against Calgary before returning home.
"I think just to bounce back from the last game in Vancouver", said Rinne, who was named the game's first star, blocking all 33 shots on his net by Calgary.
Losing 5-1 in Vancouver, fans had begun to think that Nashville Predators head coach, Barry Trotz, should plan on changing his goalie and change things up a little bit, but despite that, he was confident Rinne would make a comeback soon enough.
"(His) last performance he was fine. It wasn't anything about Pekka Rinne", Trotz said, about his main goalie that led them to their first round-two appearance in the playoffs. "When you need a win, Pekks is always the guy who can stand up and give you a
real good performance and he did tonight".
After a scoreless first period, Nashville took the lead as Niclas Bergfors made the inaugural goal of the match entering the opening minutes of the second period for his season first.
Sergei Kostitsyn added another to secure the match with a little over five minutes remaining in the final period of regulation on an assist from Craig Smith, who was penalised midway through for hooking.
Calgary on the other hand, lost its second consecutive home game and has two more remaining to finish off the month against Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and St. Louis Blues on Friday.
Nashville will now return home to face-off the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday and will host two more teams for a total of three matchups.
Both teams have high hopes for the season and hope to play better to end it off for a stronger run in the 2012 playoffs.
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