Brian Boyle scored his first goal with Nashville and Pekka Rinne made 34 saves as the Predators recorded a 3-1 win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

With the score tied 1-1 at the 8:36 mark of the third period, Boyle's slap shot from just inside the blue line found its way past a screened Carey Price.

It was Boyle's 14th goal overall this season, and his first in five games with the Predators since being acquired in a Feb. 6 trade from the New Jersey Devils.

The victory ended a three-game winless stretch for Nashville. The Canadiens took just their second regulation loss over their past 12 games (8-2-2).

Rinne entered the game with just five wins and a .896 save percentage over his past 18 games, but the Predators goalie delivered a strong performance against one of his favorite opponents. Rinne improved to 9-2-2 with a 1.42 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage in 13 career games against Montreal.

After Craig Smith's shot was stopped by Price 9:49 into the second period, Ryan Hartman converted the rebound for the game's first goal. The goal was Hartman's 10th of the season, snapping a 27-game scoreless drought for the forward.

Nashville had a 16-8 shots advantage in a scoreless first period, though Montreal roared back to outshoot the Predators by a 21-11 margin in the second frame.

Despite the added pressure, however, the Canadiens couldn't solve Rinne. Andrew Shaw had perhaps the best chance of the middle period at 18:04, finding room at the side of the net before Rinne made the stop.

Montreal finally scored 5:26 into the third period, when a nice passing play between Tomas Tatar and Shaw ended with Tatar converting his 18th goal of the season.

After Boyle's goal, red-hot Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson continued his scoring ways, finding the net 11 minutes into the third period for his 18th goal in his past 21 games. Arvidsson has the most goals of any player in the NHL since Dec. 31.

Price stopped 35 of 38 shots.

The Predators also defeated the Canadiens in their previous meeting this season, winning 4-1 at Montreal on Jan. 5.

--Field Level Media