NHL: Detroit 4, Nashville 1

NASHVILLE, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Valtteri Filppula netted a pair of goals and Jimmy Howard stopped 31-of-32 shots Monday in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-1 win over Nashville.

Filppula opened the scoring midway through the first period when Henrik Zetterberg found him open in the slot and the Finnish center one-timed a blast past Nashville's Pekka Rinne. His second goal came in the third period and gave the Wings a 4-0 lead, while Pavel Datsyuk and Danny Cleary scored in between for Detroit.

Howard improved to 21-8-1. His shutout was ruined when Jonathon Blum scored 2:12 left in the game.

Rinne ended with 18 saves for the Predators.