Lindback Gets Second Straight Shutout in Predators 5-0 Win over the Islanders

The Nashville Predators started slowly but finished strong as they beat the New York Islanders 5-0 behind the second straight shutout from rookie Anders Lindback Monday Night at the Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators received two goals from Patrick Hornqvist, and single goals from Sergei Kostitsyn, Jerred Smithson, and Nick Spaling. Kostitsyn added and assist and Cody Franson had two helpers to also ring up two point games.

Lindback was stellar in goal, once again, stopping all 28 Islanders shots. His scoreless streak now extends to 121:33 minutes going back to Johan Franson's goal at the end of the game in Detroit last Wednesday.

The Predators did not play well in the first period as they seemed to be playing the same disjointed game that the Islanders have played that has led to losses in 20 of the last 21 games.

Barry Trotz discussed the poor start, "First period, we really left him (Lindback) out to dry. We talked about getting off to a good start and we put him under siege. It was a difficult night and he gave us a chance."

The Predators did score on the power play at 11:15 in the first when Franson fired a shot from the blue line that Kostitsyn tipped past Isles goalie Dwayne Roloson to give the Preds a 1-0 lead.

The team looked much more organized when they came out in the second period. Trotz spoke to them at intermission, "I told them to let's get back to Predator hockey, let's get our pace up. I wanted to play fast. They were just slowing everything down. When you play fast, you play sharper. I said let's do what we need to do. Here's a team that 's on the brink. The second goal is going to be huge."

The Preds responded with two quick goals in the second period. The first of the pair was a gem. Shane O'Brien fired a shot at the net and Hornqvist put the rebound in to make it 2-0 at 5:22. The interesting part was O'Brien hopping over an Isles defender before taking the shot.

Two minutes later, Smithson flipped in a rebound from a Kostitsyn shot from the left of Roloson that was a real back breaker for the Islanders as they went down 3-0. The Preds were able to control the pace from that point forward.

In the third period, Hornqvist scored his second goal at 13:55 on a wraparound from behind the Islander net. His original attempt went into the side of the net before he was able to put it in off of Roloson's pads.

At the end of the game, the islanders took back to back penalties from Matt Moulson and James Wisniewski to put the Preds on the five on three power play. The team had one thing in mind and that was to get Spaling his first NHL goal. At 18:15, Spaling was wide open on the back side of the net and Shea Weber slid a perfect pass for him to lift it into the net for the final score in the 5-0 victory.

Trotz was asked if he put Spaling in to try to get him a goal, "I think if I didn't, I would have had a mutiny on the bench. It was one of the biggest cheers if you had seen our bench. When he scored they went crazy. It was great"

Trotz explained further, "He is a good player and a good team mate but they really respect how he handles himself, how he prepares himself, how he plays, how he gives of his body, and his detail. He's had a few chances and hasn't buried them so when we had the five on there we get him out there and everyone was trying to feed him."

"When he scored, everyone's arms went up, mine too. It's just one of those things that was a good thing for him that he will remember for a long time."

Spaling was elated "It's great. I can't stop smiling right now. It's pretty exciting to get that. I'm glad to get one, finally." When asked about the puck, he said, "I thinks someone grabbed it, I hope so."

Sergei Kostitsyn was injured near the end of the game when a Shea Weber shot hit him in the foot. Trotz did not seem concerned, "Just a bruise. He should be fine. Webby just lobbed that one in."

After the game, the coaching staff called off Tuesday's scheduled practice. The Predators are in a stretch where they are playing five games in eight nights so they are conserving energy as much as possible.

The Predators remain at home and will return to the ice on Wednesday night against the San Jose Sharks in a critical Western Conference match.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOntheGlass