The Nashville Predators defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 at KeyBank Center to extend their point streak to 15 games, the longest in their history.
Pekka Rinne made 35 saves for his 40th win, 11th straight, and his NHL-leading eighth shutout of the season.
"He's been the best goaltender in the League," defenseman P.K. Subban said. "There's a lot of great goaltenders in the League, but I don't think you have to look into his game much to see he's been the best at that position all season. We've got a great team, we play great team defense, but when he needs to make the big saves, he does. He's there and he's there every night for us."
The Predators have won four games in a row and are 14-0-1 in the past 15, passing their 14-game point streak (9-0-5) from Feb. 12-March 9, 2016.
"I think we were fortunate in the second period," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "The scoreboard went our way, but everything else went Buffalo's way in the second period. So, we're fortunate, we take it, and we move on and try to get better, which I thought we did."
Rinne is the seventh goalie in NHL history to win 40 games in a season three times.
"He's just so motivated, he's such a professional, and he's so motivated on this team and he's the reason we're where we're at in the standings," Johansen said. "He's been phenomenal for us all year; he's a man on a mission right now and he's really enjoying it and having fun. Every day, he's the leader in our room and he leads by example, and no one competes as hard as him on a daily basis. It's great to be his teammate and watch him play and have success this year."
Linus Ullmark made 28 saves in his second start of the season for the Sabres (23-37-12), who have lost three of four games (1-2-1) and were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.
"Really happy with the way we played against the best team in the League at this point," Sabres coach Phil Housley said. "Exactly the way we want to play. I thought we were fast. We were aggressive. ... We didn't seize our opportunities, but I can't fault the way our guys played."
Fisher gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 12:29 of the second period when he tipped a shot by Miikka Salomaki that had deflected off linemate Scott Hartnell. It was his second goal since coming out of retirement March 2.
"Just an odd-man rush and [Forsberg] just whacking it over to me on the backside," Johansen said. "I just had to chip it in as quick as I could; nice to see that one squeeze in there."
Forsberg made it 3-0 at 16:09 of the third period when he scored on the rebound of a Viktor Arvidsson shot. Hartman made it 4-0 with 24 seconds remaining.
* Johansen's goal at 17:03 of the second period.
* Rinne stopping Jack Eichel at 4:06 of the first period.* Hartman's goal at 19:36 of the third period.* The Predators have a nine-game road winning streak and a 15-game road point streak (12-0-3), each the longest in their history. … The road team has won the past five games between the Predators and Sabres.
"I didn't know that. When you say that, it sounds pretty cool; those guys are legends of this game. They've done so much not only for the game of hockey but for the position of being a goalie. That's great. That's a credit to my teammates, big time, and also my coaching staff. Over the years, they've trusted me and let me play a lot of games." -- Predators goalie Pekka Rinne on joining Martin Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff, Braden Holtby, Evgeni Nabokov, Jacques Plante and Terry Sawchuk as goalies with three or more 40-win seasons in the NHL
"In the first couple periods, we played pretty solid. We got pucks behind them, had some looks behind them defending hard. But they stick to what they do and that's why they've had success for so many years. Gave them a couple looks in the third, they put them away, but they didn't deviate from their plan. That's why they've been getting results. … The first two periods were really good for us." -- Sabres forward Jason Pominville
"He's been the best goaltender in the League," defenseman P.K. Subban said. "There's a lot of great goaltenders in the League, but I don't think you have to look into his game much to see he's been the best at that position all season. We've got a great team, we play great team defense, but when he needs to make the big saves, he does. He's there and he's there every night for us."
"I think we were fortunate in the second period," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "The scoreboard went our way, but everything else went Buffalo's way in the second period. So, we're fortunate, we take it, and we move on and try to get better, which I thought we did."
Rinne is the seventh goalie in NHL history to win 40 games in a season three times.
"He's just so motivated, he's such a professional, and he's so motivated on this team and he's the reason we're where we're at in the standings," Johansen said. "He's been phenomenal for us all year; he's a man on a mission right now and he's really enjoying it and having fun. Every day, he's the leader in our room and he leads by example, and no one competes as hard as him on a daily basis. It's great to be his teammate and watch him play and have success this year."
Linus Ullmark made 28 saves in his second start of the season for the Sabres (23-37-12), who have lost three of four games (1-2-1) and were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday.
"Really happy with the way we played against the best team in the League at this point," Sabres coach Phil Housley said. "Exactly the way we want to play. I thought we were fast. We were aggressive. ... We didn't seize our opportunities, but I can't fault the way our guys played."
Fisher gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 12:29 of the second period when he tipped a shot by Miikka Salomaki that had deflected off linemate Scott Hartnell. It was his second goal since coming out of retirement March 2.
"Just an odd-man rush and [Forsberg] just whacking it over to me on the backside," Johansen said. "I just had to chip it in as quick as I could; nice to see that one squeeze in there."
Forsberg made it 3-0 at 16:09 of the third period when he scored on the rebound of a Viktor Arvidsson shot. Hartman made it 4-0 with 24 seconds remaining.
* Johansen's goal at 17:03 of the second period.
* Rinne stopping Jack Eichel at 4:06 of the first period.* Hartman's goal at 19:36 of the third period.* The Predators have a nine-game road winning streak and a 15-game road point streak (12-0-3), each the longest in their history. … The road team has won the past five games between the Predators and Sabres.
"I didn't know that. When you say that, it sounds pretty cool; those guys are legends of this game. They've done so much not only for the game of hockey but for the position of being a goalie. That's great. That's a credit to my teammates, big time, and also my coaching staff. Over the years, they've trusted me and let me play a lot of games." -- Predators goalie Pekka Rinne on joining Martin Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff, Braden Holtby, Evgeni Nabokov, Jacques Plante and Terry Sawchuk as goalies with three or more 40-win seasons in the NHL
"In the first couple periods, we played pretty solid. We got pucks behind them, had some looks behind them defending hard. But they stick to what they do and that's why they've had success for so many years. Gave them a couple looks in the third, they put them away, but they didn't deviate from their plan. That's why they've been getting results. … The first two periods were really good for us." -- Sabres forward Jason Pominville
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