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Rinne blanks Leafs as Preds pick up road win

Wed 14th, January 2009

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Steve Sullivan recorded his first point in nearly two years and Pekka Rinne stopped all 17 shots he faced, as the Nashville Predators blanked the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2-0, at Air Canada Centre.

Sullivan played in his first game since 2007 on Saturday and on Tuesday assisted on Radek Bonk's goal, his first NHL point since February 22, 2007. Sullivan had been out of action due to long-term back problems. David Legwand also scored for Nashville, which has won three of four and halted a seven-game road winless skid.

"Mentally, I feel great -- physically, the bumps and bruises are there after not having played for a while," said Sullivan. "I'm glad I was able to take a good hit. This was a good test for me."

Rinne notched his fourth shutout of the season.

Vesa Toskala allowed two goals on 23 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost four straight games and fell to 2-8-0 in their last 10 overall.

Following two scoreless periods, Sullivan helped give the Predators the lead 5:32 into the third stanza while on the power play. With Dominic Moore in the penalty box for interference, the visitors set up in their offensive zone and Sullivan gained control in the high right slot. Sullivan then skated all the way across the high slot, maneuvered around Toronto forward Matt Stajan, and fired a wrist shot from the inner rim of the left circle that Bonk deflected on its way past Toskala.

With under seven minutes to play in regulation, the Preds moved ahead by two via Legwand's laser wrist shot. An alert backhanded tip by Nashville's Martin Erat from the defensive zone sprung Legwand up ice on a 2-on-1 break with Sullivan. Legwand raced down the right-wing side, faked a pass and lit the lamp with a wrist shot from the circle that clanked off the far post and into the back of the cage with 6:57 remaining in regulation.

"We felt good at the start of the third after the way we played in the second period, but we can't play tight in a game like that," said Toronto's Brad May.

Game Notes

The Maple Leafs are now 8-9-4 at home this season...Prior to this victory, Nashville had not won on the road since December 1 in Buffalo... The Preds ended 1-for-4 on the power play. The Leafs had four chances with the extra skater...It was Legwand's 10th goal of 2008-09...Bonk won 11-of-12 faceoffs.