NASHVILLE - The Predators were potent on the power play.
Kimmo Timonen scored two power-play goals and assisted on a third in Nashville's 3-2 victory over the Penguins on Thursday.
The Predators were 3-for-7 with the man advantage, including two goals in the third period. They scored three power-play goals for the first time this season.
"We talked about creating movement, attacking seams and getting traffic," coach Barry Trotz said. "We talked about getting back to the basics. Our power play worked their penalty killers. All three of our goals were on wrist shots in traffic. We were getting people in front of the net. The power play is all about two-on-one situations, and that was what we were getting the whole game."
Timonen leads the Predators in power-play points with 17 (five goals, 12 assists).
Martin Erat broke a 2-2 tie at 7:19 of the third period, beating Sebastien Caron through the legs.
"Right now, we are a little gun-shy when it comes to the penalty kill," Pittsburgh coach Eddie Olczyk said. "We're either going to have to make wholesale personnel changes on the penalty kill or we're going to have to change the way we do it."
Nashville's Tomas Vokoun made 29 saves for his 81st career victory, tying the franchise record set by Mike Dunham.
Pittsburgh's Rico Fata opened the scoring with 51 seconds left in the first period, and Nashville tied it on Timonen's power-play goal midway through the second.
Tomas Surovy scored on a Pittsburgh power play with 3:16 left in the second, and Timonen countered with his second power-play goal at 1:37 of the third.
BLUES 5, RANGERS 4: Chris Pronger scored the first of host St. Louis' four power-play goals, Doug Weight added three assists and coach Joel Quenneville earned his 300th victory. The Blues won for just the second time in seven games. The Rangers, 3-2-0-1 in their past six, failed to win three in a row for the fifth time this season.
SENATORS 1, ISLANDERS 0: Peter Schaefer scored with 5:55 remaining in the third period, and Patrick Lalime recorded host Ottawa's second straight shutout. The Senators ended the Islanders' six-game winning streak by extending their season-high unbeaten run to eight games. Schaefer scored his ninth of the season 14:05 into the third, beating goalie Garth Snow with a shot from the slot after taking defenseman Karel Rachunek's pass from the right corner. Lalime made 32 saves for his 30th career shutout. Senators backup Martin Prusek recorded his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory Tuesday in Boston. Snow, 9-4 since taking over the No. 1 job from Rick DiPietro, stopped 22 of 23 shots. With captain Michael Peca (mild groin strain) already out, the Islanders lost right wing Mark Parrish (left ankle) early in the first period.
DEVILS 2, CAPITALS 2: Mike Grier got his first goal since opening night and Joel Kwiatkowski tied it in the third period for host Washington. Grant Marshall and Sergei Brylin scored power-play goals in the second period for New Jersey. Capitals center Dainius Zubrus will be sidelined 2-4 weeks with a broken bone in his right foot.
BRUINS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2: Shaone Morrisonn had a goal and an assist to help snap a nine-game winless streak at home. Felix Potvin preserved the victory when he robbed Tom Fitzgerald with a glove save with 29 seconds remaining. Potvin stopped 22 shots and won for the first time in Boston this season. Morrisonn scored his first NHL goal for Boston, 0-5-4 during its streak.
Canucks give Crawford extension
Vancouver gave coach Marc Crawford a three-year contract extension through the 2006-07 season. Terms were not disclosed. Crawford, 42, has the most victories in team history with a record of 182-150-58-21 since being hired Jan. 24, 1999.
