Penguins 3, Predators 0

Some news, notes, numbers and nuggets from the Penguins’ 3-0 victory over Nashville at Bridgestone Arena Saturday night:

*** The victory ended a 0-1-1 skid for the Penguins and, more importantly, showed that they are capable of protecting a third-period lead, something they had failed to do in two of the first six games this season. “I really believe we played the right way in the third period,” coach Mike Johnston said. “When we’re talking about the right way, we’re talking about if you’re in trouble with the puck, you lay the puck in behind pressure. Coming back on the backcheck, you stop in your zone and play your lanes. Everybody committed to our defensive game, and it really didn’t take away from our offensive game.”

*** Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 25 shots – there was one save added to his total after the game – to record his 29th career shutout.

*** Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal and assisted on two third-period power-play goals to ring up his third three-point game of the season. “It’s always nice when you get rewarded,” he said.

*** The victory had to be particularly sweet for former Predators Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling, who were acquired for James Neal in June, although Hornqvist downplayed any great satisfaction: “Obviously, it feels nice to beat your old team, but in the end, it’s just a regular game.”

*** Neal had joked before the game that he knew “a few things about Fleury that I’m going to exploit,” but managed only two shots on goal. “I tried to talk to him on the ice and he didn’t say anything,” Fleury said. “All business.”

*** The Penguins scored on two third-period power plays after failing to convert any of five they had gotten in the previous two games. “The power play had been struggling the last two games,” Hornqvist said, “but you can’t score every single night.”

*** Penguins center Brandon Sutter and a Predators counterpart, Olli Jokinen, tied for the lead in hits with four each.

*** The Penguins snuffed all three of Nashville’s chances with the extra man, and have killed 15 consecutive power plays.

*** Hornqvist, on the Penguins’defensive work: “We hadn’t been playing real well in the third period, but tonight everybody was chipping in, doing the right things, and you see what happened. They didn’t have a sniff in the third.”

*** The Penguins will have a day off Sunday and practice on Monday in advance of a game against New Jersey Tuesday at Consol Energy Center.