Rangers 4, Predators 1: Chris Kreider scored early in the second period and Cam Talbot made 25 saves as host New York moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Fourth-liner Dominic Moore and defenseman Marc Staal also tallied and Rick Nash added an empty-net goal for the Rangers, who improved to 9-1-1 in their last 11 contests to pull even in points with the rival New York Islanders with two games in hand. Mats Zuccarello notched two assists after agreeing to terms on a four-year, $18 million contract extension earlier in the day and Derick Brassard also set up a pair of goals.

Former Ranger Matt Cullen scored to extend his point streak to four games for Nashville, which has dropped a season-high three in a row. Pekka Rinne turned aside 36 shots in falling to 1-4-1 in his last six decisions.

Brassard skated up the right wing before wiring a circle-to-circle feed that caromed off the stick of Zuccarello and right to Staal, who wristed a shot past Rinne 6:36 into the first period to open the scoring. New York doubled the advantage at 4:14 of the second session, when Zuccarello's sharp pass from deep in the right faceoff circle was directed home by Kreider.

Nashville halved the deficit just over 11 minutes later, as Taylor Beck's brilliant backhand feed from his knees sailed past new Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle and was shoveled home from the right doorstep by Cullen. New York regained its two-goal advantage 5:51 into the third, as an unmarked Moore cleaned up a rebound following a shot from the point by defenseman Dan Girardi, before Nash added his team-leading 38th goal to seal the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Yandle recorded three shots in his first game since being acquired from Arizona on Sunday while C James Sheppard was scratched after coming over in a trade with San Jose. ... Kreider's goal was his 17th, matching last season's total. ... Cullen has recorded two goals and four assists during his point streak, while Nashville C Mike Fisher saw his three-game run come to an end. ... The Predators yielded the contest's first goal for the eighth straight game.