Red Wings fall to Nashville at the Joe, 4-1

Gabriel Bourque & Francis Bouillon scored in the second period and gaoltender Pekka Rinne made 31 saves to help the Nashville Predators beat the Detroit Red Wings, 4-1. The win moves Nashville a point ahead of Detroit in 2nd place in the Central Division and in the 4th spot in the Western Conference for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the NHL playoffs.

Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard stopped 23 shots after missing four straight games with a groin injury. Detroit spoiled Rinne’s shot at a shutout with 3:03 left when Jiri Hudler flicked a shot into the open net off Henrik Zetterberg’s cross-crease pass.

The Red Wings are struggling down the stretch toward their 21st straight postseason with eight losses in its last 10 games. The Red Wings went from leading the NHL in points to getting mathematically eliminated from winning the Central Division, which is currently being led by St. Louis.