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Final Score: Detroit 1 - Nashville 0

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Niklas Kronwall supplemented Jimmy Howard's second shutout of the season with the game-winning shootout tally, and Detroit picked up two crucial points in the playoff race with a 1-0 win over Nashville.

Kronwall began the 11th round of the shootout with a backhand shot between the legs of Predators' goaltender Pekka Rinne. Francis Bouillon had an opportunity to extend the marathon, but his shot was easily stopped by Howard to end the game.

Howard made 33 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping 10-of-11 shots in the shootout for Detroit, which has won a season-high five straight games to jump into sixth in the West, one point ahead of Los Angeles and two in front of Colorado. The Avs lost, 6-2, to Phoenix on Saturday, and the Kings dropped a 4-1 decision to the Stars.

Rinne made 38 stops to notch his seventh whitewash of 2009-10 but allowed two goals on 11 shots in the shootout to receive the hard-luck loss. Nashville had won seven of its last eight and stands just one point ahead of the Red Wings for fifth place in the conference.

The Preds had three power play opportunities in the game, all in the first period, but Howard stopped all 13 shots he faced in the frame to keep the game scoreless.

Bouillon was called for two penalties in the middle stanza, but Detroit could not take advantage. Rinne recorded 15 saves in the second period to send the game into the third tied, 0-0.

Both teams put together a vailiant attack in the penalty-less third period, but Howard made 12 stops while Rinne had 11 to send the game to overtime. Each team registered just one shot in the extra five minutes before a shootout was needed.