Rangers 2, Predators 1, SO
Associated Press

Photos: Rangers 2, Preds 1 (SO)
Video: Game Highlights
Video: Rinne save | Tootoo fight
Post-Game Video: Trotz | Wilson
Statistics: Game Summary
Tickets: Preds vs. Coyotes - 11/30

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Erik Christensen gave the New York Rangers an extra point with a nifty move.

Christensen scored the only goal in a shootout to give the Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

After losing in Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the Rangers shut out Florida on Friday and beat Nashville to close their three-game, four-day trip. The Predators have lost four straight, two in shootouts. Five of Nashville's last nine games have gone to shootouts.

Ryan Callahan scored for New York in regulation, and Colin Wilson connected for Nashville.

Christensen was the first player called to take part in the shootout, and he beat Pekka Rinne with an aggressive move before slipping the puck just inside the left post for his second career shootout goal in his sixth attempt. Both of his shootout goals have been winners.

"I wanted to pull him into the corner, almost so that he is sliding into the boards," Christensen said. "The momentum I am trying to create, I almost out of control too. I'm just worried about keeping the puck on my stick. You have to sell it."

After Christensen's goal, Rinne stopped attempts by rookie Derek Stepan and Callahan. New York's Henrik Lundqvist denied Nashville shooters Cal O'Reilly, Marcel Goc, and Martin Erat to make Christensen's goal stand.

"I feel good about our team," New York coach John Tortorella said. "We may not win them all. We may struggle at times, but I like what's going on with the club and have for quite a while."

Lundqvist has a 22-15 record in shootouts.

"As a goalie, you play a big part in the shootout," Lundqvist said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to help this team. I did my part, and Christensen made a great move there.

Wilson scored at 5:10 of the opening period.

Wilson took advantage of a turnover by Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi inside the New York blue line, and beat Lundqvist with a wrist shot high to the glove side.

The goal was Wilson's third of this season, but first since Oct. 24, a span of 13 games. He has a goal in each of his two career games against the Rangers.

In their last five games, the Predators have scored just five goals in regulation.

"We need more chances than that to score," Nashville captain Shea Weber said. "We need to close games out by getting two or three goals when we can and getting that lead, making it easier on ourselves when it comes to later in the game."

Callahan tied it at 13:04 of the third period.

After a long shift inside the Nashville zone, Callahan's wrist shot from the slot tucked just inside the right post for his seventh goal of the season. Nashville forward Marcel Goc was without a stick and skated to the Predators' bench just before Callahan scored.

"We had the lead, and they get their goal on a broken stick," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "The play got extended, it sort of broke down, and they had people jumping in. They were able to get a puck."

NOTES: Wilson's father, Carey, played for the Rangers. ... Rangers RW Marian Gaborik missed the game because of a flulike illness. ... Nashville C David Legwand missed his fifth consecutive game because of a lower-body injury. ... Predators D Cody Franson left early in the third after taking a stick to the throat from New York's Sean Avery. He went to the hospital for evaluation, but following the game, the Predators said that he was "fine." ... Stepan had his points streak snapped at six.


Three star selections
1st:   HENRIK LUNDQVIST
2nd:   ERIK CHRISTENSEN
3rd:   PEKKA RINNE
Winning Goaltender
Henrik Lundqvist

Losing Goaltender
Pekka Rinne

SCHEDULE

HOME
AWAY
PROMOTIONAL

STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE
  TEAM GP W L OT GF GA PTS
1 p - CHI 48 36 7 5 155 102 77
2 y - ANA 48 30 12 6 140 118 66
3 y - VAN 48 26 15 7 127 121 59
4 x - STL 48 29 17 2 129 115 60
5 x - LAK 48 27 16 5 133 118 59
6 x - SJS 48 25 16 7 124 116 57
7 x - DET 48 24 16 8 124 115 56
8 x - MIN 48 26 19 3 122 127 55
9 CBJ 48 24 17 7 120 119 55
10 PHX 48 21 18 9 125 131 51
11 DAL 48 22 22 4 130 142 48
12 EDM 48 19 22 7 125 134 45
13 CGY 48 19 25 4 128 160 42
14 NSH 48 16 23 9 111 139 41
15 COL 48 16 25 7 116 152 39

STATS

2012-2013 REGULAR SEASON
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
S. Weber 48 9 19 -2 28
D. Legwand 48 12 13 -6 25
M. Fisher 38 10 11 6 21
C. Wilson 25 7 12 1 19
R. Josi 48 5 13 -7 18
G. Bourque 34 11 5 6 16
S. Kostitsyn 46 3 12 -5 15
P. Hornqvist 24 4 10 -1 14
K. Klein 47 3 11 -1 14
N. Spaling 47 9 4 -10 13
 
GOALIES: W L OT Sv% GAA
P. Rinne 15 16 8 .910 2.43
C. Mason 1 7 1 .873 3.73

 


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