Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Jonathan Bernier stopped 34 shots en route to his first career shutout to lift the Los Angeles Kings over the Nashville Predators, 2-0, at Bridgestone Arena.
Bernier Blanks Predators, 2-0 to Give Kings Playoff Hopes A Boost
Scott Parse broke the scoreless contest in the third period. His tally came at the 7:50 mark, as Jeff Halpern carried the puck behind the net and threw it quickly in front to a streaking Parse for the easy put-in for the Kings, who snapped a four-game skid and trail Detroit by one point for the sixth spot in the West.
Bernier, playing in his sixth NHL game and just second this season, made eight saves in the first period, 15 in the second and 11 in the third. He was recalled from Manchester of the American Hockey League on Monday.
Sean O'Donnell also scored for the Kings, who ended a seven-game skid against Nashville, beating the Predators for the first time since March 13, 2008.
Pekka Rinne racked up 29 saves in the loss for the Preds, who have dropped two of their last three and are just one point ahead of Detroit and two points in front of the Kings for the fifth playoff spot.
Neither squad netted a goal in the first period as the Kings outshot the Predators, 18-8.
Both goaltenders stood strong in the second frame as the game remained scoreless, after Nashville turned the tables and out-blasted LA, 15-4.
After Parse garnered momentum for the Kings, O'Donnell put the game out of reach with 2:01 to go as he snapped a wrister over Rinne, after Alexander Frolov's shot careened off the goaltender and came out to the left circle.
Halpern's assist was his first point in 13 games with the Kings, after coming over from Tampa Bay...The Predators are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games...Nashville outshot the Kings 26-13 over the final two periods...Randy Jones and Jaret Stoll each tallied an assist for the Kings.
See More:
