Pekka Rinne was perfect in Vancouver on Thursday night as he stopped all 29 Canuck shots in route to his fifth shutout of the season. The Predators put together their best sixty minute effort in the 3-0 win since their last game against Vancouver three weeks ago.
All three Predator goals were scored in the final period. Blake Geoffrion had the game winner which was followed by a late insurance goal by Patric Hornqvist and an empty netter by David Legwand in the closing minute.
Roberto Luongo played perfect hockey until the end as he stopped 26 of 28 Predator shots in what was a classic goaltending battle until late in the contest.
With the win, the Preds moved from eleventh place in the Western Conference, where they had fallen after the East coast action, to sixth with 75 points. They could fall behind the Kings, pending the outcome of their game with the Coyotes.
The first period was a tale of two halves. The Predators started slow as Rinne kept the team in the game with several acrobatic saves. By the end of the period the Preds were much more in control and putting up a much more solid attack.Vancouver led in shots 11-8 and also the Corsi 25-17.