By AP
DETROIT –
Martin Erat scored the first of Nashville's four goals to chase Jimmy Howard, and Pekka Rinne made 34 saves to help the Predators beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Wednesday night.
David Legwand gave Nashville a two-goal lead in the first period. Colin Wilson scored early in the second and Sergei Kostitsyn made it 4-0 midway through the period to end Howard's night.
Howard got pulled after giving up four goals on 16 shots and was replaced by Joey MacDonald.
The Red Wings avoided getting shut out for the third time in four games late in the second when Ruslan Salei scored for the first time this season in his 53rd game with Detroit.
The Central Division-leading Red Wings had their cushion over second-place Nashville cut to five points.