Final
  for this game

Rinne notches shutout, Predators snap slide

Oct 23, 2011 - 4:16 AM Calgary, AB (Sports Network) - Pekka Rinne notched his 21st career shutout, stopping 33 shots as the Nashville Predators defeated the Calgary Flames, 2-0.

Rinne, who was pulled in the first period after allowing four goals to Vancouver in Nashville's last game, came up large as the Predators were outshot 33-14 in the game.

"Overall we had enough chances to win tonight, and with this team it's always a tight game. We gave them two odd-man rushes and they scored both times," Flames forward Olli Jokinen said.

Niclas Bergfors and Sergei Kostitsyn tallied for the Predators, who snapped a four-game losing skid.

"Obviously this was a huge one," said Rinne. "Now it's nice to go back home and get ready to play again."

Miikka Kiprusoff saved 12 shots for Calgary, which has lost two straight.

Bergfors scored the first Predators tally 2:34 into the second period. Brian McGrattan fed Jack Hillen in the high slot from the left circle. Hillen one-timed the disc first off Calgary's David Moss, and then off Bergfors before winding up behind Kipprusoff.

It appeared that the Flames knotted the game just a few minutes later, but Tim Jackman's goal was waived off as Tom Kostopoulos interfered with Rinne.

Kostitsyn made it 2-0 with 5:24 left in the final period. Craig Smith charged down the right wing on a 2-on-1 opportunity. Once Smith saw Kiprusoff come slightly out of the net, he found a streaking Kostitsyn, who finished on a wide-open net from the left side.

Game Notes

Nashville opens a three-game homestand against the Sharks on Tuesday...Calgary squares off against the Avalanche on Wednesday in the fourth game of a six- game homestand...The Predators lost all four games against the Flames last season.