NHL: Nashville 4, Minnesota 3

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Jerred Smithson's shorthanded goal put Nashville in front midway through the third period Wednesday and the Predators held on to defeat Minnesota 4-3.

Nashville won for the fourth time in 11 games this year despite blowing a two-goal lead. The Predators have captured two out of three after losing six in a row.

Pekka Rinne got the win in relief by stopping all 12 shots he saw over the final 37 minutes. Dan Ellis was replaced in the second period after giving up three goals in a span of less than 2 minutes.

Those goals by Brent Burns, Cal Clutterbuck and Owen Nolan gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead but Nashville tied it 6:44 into the second on Mike Santorelli's first goal of the season.

Cody Franson was in the penalty box for Nashville in the third when the puck slipped past Minnesota defenseman Marek Zidlicky. Smithson outraced the Minnesota players to the puck and put a shot past Niklas Backstrom.

Backstrom allowed all four goals on just 22 shots.