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.