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Fleury, Penguins blank Predators

Oct 26, 2014 - 7:30 AM Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Sidney Crosby scored his fifth goal of the season and Marc-Andre Fleury was stellar between the pipes as the Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the Nashville Predators, 3-0, on Saturday.

Crosby's first-period tally was all Pittsburgh needed, as Fleury turned away all 25 shots he faced. Evgeni Malkin and Pascal Dupuis scored insurance goals for the Penguins, who ended a brief two-game slide.

"For the most part we did a good job, got into lanes when we needed to," Crosby said.

Pekka Rinne allowed all three goals on 26 shots as Nashville fell in regulation for the first time this season.

"Their backs were tight and their back checks were good," Nashville head coach Peter Laviolette said of Pittsburgh.

Nashville controlled the early portion of the game, holding Pittsburgh without a shot for the first six minutes of the game. The tone changed when Crosby found a loose puck in front of Rinne at 6:21 and took two slaps at it, eventually forcing it into the back of the net.

After an uneventful second period, Pittsburgh tacked on two more goals early in the third. Malkin made an unbelievable individual effort after receiving a short pass from Fleury, weaving in between defenders before firing a no-look pass to Crosby at the blue line. Crosby slid a pass back to Malkin, who tapped in his third goal of the year.

Three minutes later, Crosby found Steve Downie in front of the net. Rinne stoned him, but Dupuis converted the rebound.

Game Notes

Crosby had a goal and two assists. This is his third three-point game of the season ... Pittsburgh won 25-of-43 face offs.