BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for his first
career shutout, Jason Arnott snapped a tie in the third period and
the Nashville Predators beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 Monday night.
J.P. Dumont also scored and had an assist for the Predators
(12-10-2), who won for the third time in five games.
Ryan Miller made 25 saves for the Sabres (11-10-3), who lost
their second straight. Miller also had his personal three-game
winning streak stopped.
The Sabres played without captain Craig Rivet, who was scratched
just hours before gametime because of an upper body injury. But
Buffalo did get forward Ales Kotalik back after he missed seven
games because of a hamstring injury.
Standing in front of the net, Arnott chipped a loose puck over
Miller for his team-leading 13th goal of the season with 11:53 to
go in regulation to give the Predators the lead. Arnott has scored
in three consecutive games, and four of five.
Dumont upped the advantage to 2-0 with his fifth of the season
2½ minutes later, tapping in the puck while diving to his left
after Miller stopped Shea Weber's initial shot.
Both teams looked weary, and play was lethargic at times,
especially in the first two periods. The Sabres were playing their
fourth game in six nights while Nashville played for the third time
in four nights.
Notes: Predators C David Legwand played in his 573th game with the
Predators, tying Kimmo Timonen for the most in team history. ...
Nashville killed off both of Buffalo's power plays after allowing
five man-advantage goals in a 6-2 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.
... The Sabres were a 2-3 during a stretch in which they played
five of six at home.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)