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NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Predators showed little southern hospitality to their former neighbours from Atlanta. Ed Dickson Panthers Jersey . Pekka Rinne made 24 saves to lead the Predators to a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. Matt Halischuk, Gabriel Bourque and Shea Weber scored for Nashville, which snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Jets. Tim Stapleton had the lone goal for the Jets, who have lost three of four. One night after rallying from a three goal-deficit and winning in overtime at Washington, the Jets lost their 21st road game of the season. "You look at the game, we got shots, but very few quality shots, very few scoring chances," Winnipeg coach Claude Noel said. "It was very little penetration inside the dots. Very few second and third opportunities, and I thought they did a good job of keeping us to the outside. It was a tough night to get on the inside of anything." Before moving to Winnipeg and changing their nickname, the Jets were the Atlanta Thrashers, and were located just over 200 miles from Music City. Halischuk scored the first goal at 2:56 of the second period. After a faceoff deep in the Nashville zone, Alexander Radulov carried the puck into the neutral zone. At the centre-ice dot, he found Halischuk on his right. Without breaking stride, Halischuk entered Winnipegs zone and pulled up at the top of the right faceoff dot. From there, he fired a slap shot over the glove of Ondrej Pavelec for his 13th goal. "I saw a little bit of net on the right side there," Halischuk said. "I was just trying to get a quick, hard shot." Radulov has a goal and an assist in two games since returning to the NHL after spending the last four seasons in Russias KHL. "They have big guys in the lineup, especially with Radulov right now," Pavelec said. "I think he played really well. The team is better with him." Midway through the second, Bourque doubled Nashvilles lead. Nick Spalings shot from the high slot hit the stick of Winnipeg defenceman Randy Jones in front, and Bourque quickly tapped it past Pavelec low to the glove side. Spalings assist ended a 12-game drought without a point. Stapleton drew the Jets to within one at 12:53 of the third. From behind the Nashville net, Spencer Machacek spotted Stapleton skating through the low slot. Stapleton split two Nashville players and had an easy tap-in for his 11th goal. "Obviously, when it was 2-1 it got a little tight," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We were losing some faceoffs, and when we did, we didnt execute getting them out." Weber finished the scoring with an empty-net, power-play goal from near centre ice with 10.1 seconds remaining in the third. The first period remained scoreless in large part because of a blocked shot by Nashville defenceman Kevin Klein. Rinne was out of his crease after making a stop on Andrew Ladd, but the puck came right back to the Jets captain in the slot. Klein filled the vacated crease well and deflected Ladds wrist shot to the right corner. "It was one of those things. It was just reactionary," Klein said. "Peks, he bails me out enough, so it is nice to chip in." NOTES: Nashville killed Winnipegs only power play of the game. The Predators have been short-handed just once in each of their last four games. . Nashville RW Jordin Tootoo was a healthy scratch. Before Saturday, his only two missed games this season were because of an NHL suspension resulting from his hit on Buffalo G Ryan Miller on Dec. 3. . The Jets are 1-23-3 when trailing after two periods. . Winnipeg RW Chris Thorburn missed his sixth consecutive game because of an undisclosed lower body injury. Jonathan Stewart Panthers Jersey . And in that time span, the Tampa Bay Lightning have remained near the top of the Eastern Conference without star forward Steven Stamkos. Pathers #8 Jersey . -- Stephen Strasburg says hes "ready to rock. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Michael Brantley gets to head home celebrating a game-winning hit instead of dwelling on a rare error. Brantley atoned for a dropped fly ball by hitting a two-run single in the ninth inning off new Oakland closer Jim Johnson that helped the Cleveland Indians salvage a split of a day-night doubleheader with a 6-4 win over the Athletics in the nightcap Wednesday. "Its just a never-die attitude, never quit, always picking each other up and always fighting to the end," Brantley said. "What we did tonight was fun. It was special, and hopefully well use that momentum to keep going." Scott Kazmir (1-0) pitched 7 1-3 scoreless innings against his former team in his Oakland debut to help the As win the opener 6-1. They appeared to be on their way to a sweep when they took a 4-3 lead into the ninth with help from Brantleys dropped fly ball. But Johnson allowed back-to-back singles to Ryan Raburn and Nick Swisher to open the inning. After a one-out walk to Carlos Santana loaded the bases, Brantley grounded a single to right field to give the Indians the lead. "Any time you can win a game its always great, but especially in a doubleheader," said Mike Aviles, who homered earlier in the game. "Last thing you want to do is get on that plane after losing two." David Murphy added a sacrifice fly to end Johnsons night to a chorus of boos. Johnson also allowed two runs in the ninth inning to take the loss on opening night and is 0-7 with a 7.94 ERA in 17 games against the Indians. More importantly for As fans he has lost twice since taking over from Grant Balfour as closer. "We should be 3-0 and I take responsibility," Johnson said. "But if I sulk or pout its not going to do anyone any good. I have to be better." Cody Allen (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and John Axford got three outs for his second save. The As had taken the lead when Brantley dropped a fly ball in left-centre that allowed Josh Donaldson to reach second and ended a club-record streak of 247 games in the outfield without an error. "They both called it at the same time," manager Terry Francona said. "Probably the most conscientious guy on the field is kicking himself. For him to get a hit like thaat was really great. Tre Boston Panthers Jersey. " Donaldson later scored on Brandon Moss single that made it 4-3. The teams played the earliest doubleheader in baseball history following the first rainout in Oakland since May 5, 1998, on Tuesday night. The previous earliest doubleheader came on April 7 in 1971, 74 and 96, according to STATS. Kazmir started the day off on the right note for Oakland, allowing three hits and no walks in 7 1-3 scoreless innings. He signed a $22 million, two-year contract in the off-season to replace All-Star Bartolo Colon in the rotation. Kazmirs importance in the rotation only grew when projected opening day starter Jarrod Parker was lost to a season-ending elbow injury and starter A.J. Griffin opened the season on the disabled list. "You always want to make that good first impression and thats what he did," catcher Derek Norris said. "If he had any type of pressure on his shoulders to do something good I think thats pretty much eliminated." Alberto Callaspo hit a two-run homer for the Athletics. Corey Kluber (0-1) failed to make it out of the fourth inning and lost for the first time in 13 starts since June 27. He gave up five runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings. He was hurt by a nearly five-minute replay delay in the second inning. The disputed play came with runners on first and third and one out when Josh Donaldson hit a grounder to third. Carlos Santana threw home and umpire Mark Wegner ruled that Gomes tagged Norris before he touched home. As manager Bob Melvin challenged the call but the ruling stood after a review of about 4 minutes, 45 seconds, because there was no conclusive evidence to overturn it. Kluber allowed an RBI single to Lowrie after the delay to fall behind 3-0. "By that point it was apparent I was searching and I dont think that had anything to do with it," Kluber said. "That being said, I thought it took way too long. It took away from the flow of the game and thats what they are trying to avoid." NOTES: Brantleys previous error came on June 3, 2012, against Minnesota. ... The Indians won a replay challenge in the second game when replay showed Nick Punto missed the tag on Aviles on a steal attempt of second base. Cleveland failed to score after the challenge. ' ' ' |
