NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Kyle Turris scored the only goal in the shootout to lift the Nashville Predators over the Minnesota Wild 2-1 Tuesday night to snap a three-game skid.
The win clinched the Predators' home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. They also moved three points ahead of Tampa Bay in the chase for the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
Roman Josi scored for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne made 22 saves.
Rinne turned away Nino Niederreiter in the shootout. Zach Parise's attempt went wide left, and Rinne stopped Mikko Koivu to clinch it.
Eric Staal tied it for Minnesota with 3:15 left on his 40th goal this season.
Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves as Minnesota snapped a five-game point streak. The Wild still won the season series against Nashville, 3-2.
The Predators thought they had scored 40 seconds into overtime on a slap shot by Ryan Ellis. Minnesota challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned on review because Turris' right skate was a few inches ahead of the puck past the blue line.
Rinne stopped Staal twice in overtime, and Mikael Granlund hit the far post with 1:07 left.
Turris shot first for Nashville in the shootout and beat Dubnyk.
Nashville returned home for three games mired in a skid that matched its longest this season. Playing in front of the 99th consecutive sold-out crowd didn't hurt as the Predators improved to 26-8-4 in the place known as Smashville.
The Predators came out throwing pucks at Dubnyk, and Josi put Nashville up 1-0 with a slap shot from the point off the faceoff that went under Dubnyk's glove 2:51 into the game.
Jordan Greenway made his NHL debut after finishing his college career at Boston University and signing a three-year entry level deal with Minnesota. Greenway was welcomed by a big check from veteran Scott Hartnell midway through the first period.
Nashville missed plenty of chances to pad its lead, going scoreless on four man advantages through the first two periods.
Staal tied it by beating Rinne's left skate inside the post.
NOTES: Staal joined Gordie Howe as the only players to go at least nine years between 40-goal seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Howe went 12 seasons between his 44 goals in 1956-57 and 44 goals in 1968-69. Staal scored 40 in 2008-09. ... Veteran center Matt Cullen is Minnesota's nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
UP NEXT
Wild: Host Dallas on Thursday night.
Predators: Host Sharks on Thursday night.
