Predators 3, Devils 1

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) – Martin Erat scored twice and Anders Lindback continued his strong play with as 15 saves as Nashville stopped New Jersey, 3-1, at Prudential Center.

Steve Sullivan also tallied while Shea Weber and Ryan Suter added two assists each for the Predators, who won their fifth straight game.

“I was just in the right spots at the right time,” said Erat. “So long as I can help the team win it doesn’t matter if I’m scoring goals or making plays on defense.”

Lindback improved to 9-1-2 on the year with his fifth straight victory.

Mattias Tedenby provided the only offense for the Devils, who suffered their sixth loss in seven outings. Martin Brodeur allowed all three goals on 20 shots in defeat.

“It’s another setback for us,” said Kovalchuk. “We hopes to build on the previous win, but it didn’t happen. We can’t keep playing like this, especially in our own building.”

Erat added a deflection of a Suter drive to make it 3-0 for the visitors 4:55 into the third period, before Tedenby’s shot under the crossbar on a Devils advantage at 7:06.

Brodeur was pulled for an extra skater inside of two minutes to play, and Jersey enjoyed significant pressure in the Nashville zone until forward Jamie Langenbrunner was called for interference with 1:15 remaining.

Nashville picked up the game’s first goal with 17 seconds remaining in the first period as Weber’s right-point shot deflected off Sullivan, then Brodeur’s glove and trickled over the goal line.

Erat’s rising wrister from the right circle made it 2-0 for the Preds on the power play at 4:56 of the second period.

Lindback appeared on the verge of his third shutout after stopping nine shots over the first 40 minutes.

This was the Predators’ first win at Jersey since a 4-3 shootout decision on October 19, 2006…Erat posted his first multi-goal game of the season and first since registering a hat trick in a 4-2 win over Vancouver on December 8, 2009…New Jersey was held to two goals or less for the 23rd time in 31 games.

Nashville Predators vs. New Jersey Devils - Arnott Faces Former Team

New Jersey Devils' center Jason Arnott insisted there's no extra meaning in tonight's game against the Nashville Predators.

"I just want to win," Arnott told Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record. "Get two points. That's what we need."

Arnott and the Devils will look to start a winning streak tonight against the Predators at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Nashville and Arnott failed to reach a contract extension this summer, helping to facilitate a trade. On June 19, the Predators traded Arnott to New Jersey for a second-round pick and prospect Matt Halischuck. Arnott waived his no-trade clause to come back to the Devils.

"We discussed having an extension, but they couldn't come up with that right then," Arnott said to Gulitti. "So, it was a decision of mine to move on and start fresh somewhere else. And then I wanted to come back here."

Arnott's second stint with the Devils has been a successful one. The center leads all scorers with nine goals and is tied for third on the team with 15 points. Devils coach John MacLean praised the veteran center.

"He was brought in here to be a big center (6-5, 220) and to help in a support role and he's gotten some goals for us, some timely goals," MacLean said to Gulitti.

Nashville, only five points out of the Western Conference lead, carries a four game winning streak into tonight's game. Over the past eight games, the Predators are 7-0-1.The Devils sit on the opposite end of the spectrum. A perennial playoff contender, New Jersey sits at 9-19-2 on the season, good for 20 points and a place in the league's basement. 

The Devils will look to reverse those struggles and win consecutive games for only the second time this season. New Jersey snapped a five-game winning streak against the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-0, Wednesday night at the Prudential Center. Ilya Kovalchuk powered the offense, recording his first multi-goal game as a Devil. Martin Brodeur returned to his old form, making some incredible saves to blank Phoenix.

Despite his team's struggles, Arnott doesn't regret his decision.

"It's been OK," Arnott said to Gulitti. "Obviously, we want to be in a different situation than we are. I chose to come back here and try to help win and to win. Things just haven't gone well for us as a whole. That's been disappointing, but I've enjoyed coming back. The guys in here are fantastic. I love living here. My family loves living here. So, in all aspects - one negative towards all the positives - it's been great."