Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – Mike Ribeiro reached a milestone by
scoring the go-ahead goal with 7:14 remaining in the third period as the
Nashville Predators edged the visiting New York Rangers 3-2 on Saturday
afternoon.
The tally was his 700th NHL point and helped the Predators rebound from
Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Anaheim that snapped a franchise-record, nine-game home
win streak.
Roman Josi and Shea Weber had goals 41 seconds apart late in the second period
for Nashville, which got 30 saves from Pekka Rinne. Rinne returned to action
against the Ducks after missing eight games with a knee injury.
The Rangers are having to deal with the absence of their No. 1 goaltender. The
club announced Friday that Henrik Lundqvist will be out at least three weeks
with a vascular injury.
Backup Cam Talbot stopped 20 shots and Rick Nash netted his 33rd goal of the
season as New York had its three-game win streak come to an end.
“I really liked the way we played on the road today,” said Rangers coach Alain
Vigneault. “Didn’t give them too many opportunities. A couple of those goals
against, the puck had eyes and just found holes.”
The Rangers tied it at 2-2 early in the third on a goal by Ryan McDonagh. The
New York captain took a pass from Mats Zuccarello, skated by Eric Nystrom at
the point, moved into the left circle and beat Rinne on a wrist shot at the
1:37 mark.
Ribeiro put Nashville back on top with a slap shot from atop the left circle.
The puck sailed through traffic and past Talbot, who had earned a shutout in
his only prior encounter with the Predators.
“I don’t shoot often, but this one went in and it’s a big two points for us,”
Ribeiro said.
New York came close to tying it with about three minutes remaining, but Derick
Brassard missed the net on a 2-on-1 off Zuccarello’s feed following a
Nashville turnover.
Nash opened the scoring on a power play at 11:49 of the second. Rinne made a
save on Nash’s first backhander, but not the second one.
Josi and Weber scored off slap shots to give Nashville a 2-1 lead. Josi beat
Talbot on the glove side from the left circle with 1:21 left, then Weber
followed up by blasting the puck past Talbot’s blocker from the right circle
with 40 seconds to go.
Game Notes
Nash has scored five times during a four-game goal streak … The Rangers had
won four straight in Nashville … New York center Derek Stepan missed the
game because of an illness … Rangers forward Jesper Fast left the game with
a sprained knee and didn’t return … The Predators lost forward Colin Wilson
to an upper-body injury.
