Pred's streak intact

Mason backstops the Predators' to keep streak intact
Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:30 AM EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chris Mason made 24 saves and Martin Erat scored with 5:09 left in regulation time to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in NHL play in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The Predators won their third straight game and increased their lead in the Central Division to four points over the idle Detroit Red Wings with the win, but they were pressed hard for most of the night by the last-placed Flyers.

Mason stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced in the third period, when the Flyers had several good scoring chances before Erat's game-winner.

Steve Sullivan and Alexander Radulov scored the other goals for the Predators, who out-shot the Flyers 29-26.

Philadelphia slipped to 7-15-3 with the loss, leaving the Flyers in last place in the Eastern Conference overall standings as their modest two-game winning streak was snapped.

Mike Knuble, who earlier in the day signed a two-year contract extension with the club, and R.J. Umberger scored for the Flyers, while Antero Niittymaki made 26 saves.

Umberger's goal at 13:29 of the third period tied the score at 2-2, but Erat's game-winner came just 1:40 later off a Philadelphia turnover.

*Tuomo Ruutu scored with 1:48 left in regulation time, to lift the Chicago Blackhawks past the Dallas Stars 2-1. The Hawks gave former star player and assistant coach Denis Savard the win in his first game as head coach. Savard replaced the fired Trent Yawney on Monday.