National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Nashville 2, Winnipeg 0
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, October 17, 2014
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Referees: Chris Lee, Brad Watson
Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Ryan Galloway
Attendance: 15016

Predators 2, Jets 0: James Neal scored his first goal with his new team and Pekka Rinne made 31 saves as Nashville put a damper on Winnipeg's home opener.

Mike Ribeiro also tallied and defenseman Anton Volchenkov notched a pair of assists for the Predators, who extended their season-opening point streak to four games (3-0-1). Rinne improved to 5-0-0 lifetime against Winnipeg as he posted his 33rd career shutout.

Ondrej Pavelec turned aside 25 shots for the Jets, who have scored a total of one goal during their three-game losing streak. Winnipeg failed to convert on three power-play opportunities, falling to 0-for-12 on the man advantage this season.

Nashville gave Rinne all the offensive support he needed late in the first period. Defenseman Seth Jones unleashed a slap shot from the right point that Ribeiro deflected past Pavelec from the inner edge of the right faceoff circle with 3:40 remaining for his second goal.

After a scoreless middle session, Neal added some insurance 7:31 into the third, accepting a backhand pass from Filip Forsberg and beating Pavelec from the left circle for his first point as a Predator. Neal has eclipsed the 20-goal mark in each of his first six seasons in the NHL.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Despite their struggles on the power play, the Jets are a perfect 18-for-18 on the penalty kill following their 4-for-4 effort. ... Predators C Olli Jokinen returned to Winnipeg after spending the last two seasons with the Jets and recorded a plus-1 rating while registering two shots and blocking three in 14 1/2 minutes of ice time. ... Nashville D Ryan Ellis took a hard hit into the end boards from Winnipeg C Bryan Little with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period and did not take another shift.
Top Game Performances
 
Nashville   Winnipeg
Anton Volchenkov 2 Points N/A
James Neal 1 Goals N/A
Anton Volchenkov 2 Assists N/A
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Pekka Rinne 1.000 Save Percentage Ondrej Pavelec .926
Pekka Rinne 31 Saves Ondrej Pavelec 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Nashville 27 2 0-4 3-3 10 27
Winnipeg 31 0 0-3 4-4 12 26
Upcoming Games
  • Winnipeg will play their next game at home against Calgary. The Jets have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Predators have a W/L % of .500 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.