Predators 4 - 2 Maple Leafs
Final
  for this game

Smith, Cullen lead Preds over Leafs

Nov 22, 2013 - 6:19 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Craig Smith scored a pair of goals and Matt Cullen added one goal and three assists to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

Seth Jones also scored for the Predators, winners in three straight. Marek Mazanec had 24 saves.

Peter Holland and Nazem Kadri scored one goal apiece for the Maple Leafs, who had won their last two entering the contest. Jonathan Bernier allowed all four goals on 28 shots.

Holland opened up the scoring less than six minutes into the game. Holland, who was acquired in a trade with the Ducks last week, took a feed from Nikolai Kulemin at the blue line, skated in to the left circle and sniped it past Mazanec for his first goal with Toronto.

"I saw the far side open so I fired it over there," Holland said. "(The puck) came out pretty quick, but once I saw the replay I knew it was good."

Jones netted the equalizer just over two minutes into the middle session. With Toronto forward Mason Raymond in the penalty box for high-sticking, Jones blasted a one-timer from Gabriel Bourque for his third goal of the season.

Cullen put the Predators on top with his wrister at the 11:14 mark of the second. Cullen took a pass from Colin Wilson from behind the net and ripped a shot that was blocked by Bernier. The rebound, though, bounced right back to Smith, who was able to sneak the disc through to put Nashville on top.

Smith capped off the big period with a power-play goal at the 16:25 mark. Smith took a pass right in front of the net and quickly flipped it past Bernier for a 3-1 edge.

"I thought we got contributions from all lines tonight," said Predators coach Barry Trotz. "Everybody down the road. Even our fourth line -- they gave us some really good minutes when we needed it."

Smith added another goal 4 1/2 minutes into the third and Kadri potted his sixth goal of the season with 4 1/2 minutes left to account for the final difference.

Game Notes

Smith also finished with an assist and Wilson had a pair of helpers in the win ... Nashville improved to 6-7-1 on the road this season ... Kadri has 15 points through 15 games this season ... Toronto was 0-for-2 on the power play.






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