GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Pekka Rinne stopped 35 shots after signing the richest contract in team history, and Patric Hornqvist scored in his fourth straight game to lift the Nashville Predators to a 3-0 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.
Rinne received a big gift on his 29th birthday, signing a seven-year, $49 million contract earlier Thursday. He celebrated by turning away everything the Coyotes threw at him for his third shutout of the season and 23rd in the NHL.
Jonathon Blum and Matt Halischuk had goals in the second period, and Hornqvist added his fifth goal in four games, scoring into an empty net.
The Coyotes started off strong after beating Colorado 4-1 on Wednesday, but couldn't solve Rinne. Phoenix's five-game point streak was snapped (4-0-1).
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