Smith's late power-play goal leads Predators over Sabres 2-1

Craig Smith’s power-play goal with 6:29 remaining in third period propelled Nashville Predators to a 2-1 victory over Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

Ryan Johansen also scored for Nashville, which snapped a two-game skid.

Sam Reinhart h lone goal for Buffalo, which h won its previous three games.

With Sabres captain Jack Eichel in penalty box serving a tripping penalty, Smith redirected Kyle Turris’ shot off left post, n off of left leg of Buffalo goaltender Linus Ullmark and into net for Smith's 11th goal of season.

Nashville entered Saturday with league’s 25th-ranked power play, and h failed to score on man vant in ir last four games.

Reinhart scored game’s first goal with 1:02 remaining in opening period. Rasmus Dahlin h puck on right side near faceoff dot. re, he sent a cross-ice pass to Reinhart, who was on goal line to left of Nashville net and he lifted a wrist shot over Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne.

Rinne me 30 saves in earning his 16th win of season.

In his last five games played in Nashville, Reinhart has seven goals and one assist.

Johansen evened game at 1 at 6:05 of second. Roman Josi’s shot from slot missed wide to left and bounced off end boards right to Johansen on left side, where his backhand swat at rebound bounced off Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian and into net.

Ullmark finished with 35 saves.

Johansen h t recorded a point in Nashville’s previous six games.

TES: Eichel’s nine-game point streak was snapped. ... Dahlin has seven points in his last seven games. ... Predators LW Austin Watson returned to lineup after being a healthy scratch for four consecutive games. ... Rinne is 7-2-0 in his career against Buffalo.

UP NEXT

Sabres: Host Ottawa on Jan. 28.

Predators: Host Toronto on Jan. 27.