NASHVILLE: Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins handed the Nashville Predators their first loss in regulation with a 3-0 shutout yesterday.
The Predators were the last NHL team to lose in regulation this season.
Evgeni Malkin and Pascal Dupuis also scored for Pittsburgh, which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves for his first shutout of the season and 29th of his career.
Crosby opened the scoring at 6:21 of the first period when he collected the rebound of his own shot at the right post and stuffed it past Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Patric Hornqvist earned the second assist on Crosby’s goal. Pittsburgh acquired Hornqvist and Nick Spaling from Nashville in a draft-day trade in exchange for high-scoring winger James Neal.
Malkin and Dupuis scored power-play goals 3:22 apart early in the third period. Malkin’s goal came on a give-and-go with Crosby. From above the right circle, Crosby hit Malkin in stride by the left post, where he had an easy re-direct for his third goal of the season, all on the power play. Agencies
