NHL: Nashville 2, Chicago 0

NASHVILLE, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Pekka Rinne made 22 saves Thursday and produced the eighth shutout of his career in carrying the Nashville Predators to a 2-0 victory over Chicago.

Nashville began the night in last place in the Central Division, thanks partly to poor goaltending. Rinne has been sharing time in goal with Dan Ellis and neither has gotten off to a good start this season.

Rinne, however, came through with a much-needed effort that allowed the Predators to down Chicago for the first time in three meetings this season. Rinne's other seven shutouts all came last season.

Cristobal Huet was the hard-luck loser, giving up only a power-play goal to Joel Ward with 5:07 left in the second period. The puck slipped past Huet after Ward tipped a shot by Francis Bouillon.

The only other Nashville score was an empty-net goal by Jerred Smithson with 4 seconds left in the third.

The Predators won their second straight. Chicago had won its previous two games.