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Rinne, Predators silence Wild

Mar 11, 2011 - 4:10 AM Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Pekka Rinne stopped 19 shots for his sixth shutout of the season to help the Nashville Predators take a 4-0 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Nick Spaling scored twice while Martin Erat and Joel Ward each had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who had lost three of four coming in.

Niklas Backstrom stopped 27 shots for the Wild, who have dropped four of their last six games.

Just after a Minnesota penalty expired, Nashville took a 1-0 lead when David Legwand sent a pass from behind the net to the left circle where a one-timer by Ward found the back of the net at the 3:13 mark of the first.

Spaling's first goal of the game came 48 seconds later when he slammed home a wraparound attempt from Jerred Smithson.

At the 12:32 mark of the opening frame, Nashville made it a 3-0 game as Erat banged in a loose puck on the doorstep for his 12th goal of the season.

The middle frame saw Rinne stop four shots while Backstrom made nine saves.

Spaling scored with 5:01 to play in the third while Rinne made 10 saves in the frame to complete the win.

Game Notes

Nashville hosts Colorado on Saturday...Minnesota plays at Dallas on Friday...Rinne has 20 shutouts in his career...Nasvhille took three of the four games against Minnesota this season.