NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- From here we go again to here we go.

That might sum up the Nashville Predators' mindset after goalie Pekka Rinne turned in an absolute robbery, denying Ottawa Senators right winger Bobby Ryan a certain goal six minutes into the game Tuesday.

From there, Nashville steadied and eventually delivered a more consistent effort, using goals on its first two shots of the second period to supplement one of Rinne's best games of the season in a 3-1 win at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.

"That save in the first period was huge for us," Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. "It prevented us from going down 1-0. It gave us the momentum."

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm set up Ottawa's golden chance with a ghastly giveaway in front of Rinne. Derick Brassard fed Ryan in the slot, and Ryan ripped a wrister that was ticketed for the right corner before Rinne stretched his left leg out and kicked the shot away as 17,113 fans roared.

For a Nashville team that entered the night with five losses in six games, it was a little bit like oxygen.

"Of course, it gives you confidence," Rinne said. "The crowd's response, it was a big boost. You battle to make that save, and once in a while, you get it. I talked to Bobby after that, and he wasn't too happy."

On the other hand, Ekholm, who would have in effect drawn the secondary assist for the goal, was more than relieved that Rinne bailed him out.

"He was saying, 'Sorry about that.' I told him that's why I'm back there," Rinne said with a grin.

That was the biggest of 33 saves for Rinne (3-4-3), denied his 41st career shutout when Kyle Turris scored his sixth goal at 5:30 of the third period.

By then, the Predators (4-5-3) were firmly in control, fueled largely by their quick start to the second period as they finally solved Craig Anderson, who had matched Rinne save for save in the first 20 minutes.

With the teams skating four-on-four after minor penalties late in the first period, Josi set up James Neal in the slot. and Neal beat Anderson with a wrister for his third goal 46 seconds into the period. P.K. Subban drew the secondary assist with a brilliant individual effort, lugging the puck around the offensive zone before finding Josi.

Subban made it 2-0 at 3:52 of the second, wiring a wrister from the right point through traffic for his third goal. It was the second two-point game of the season for the former Norris Trophy winner, who admitted his first 10 games with Nashville haven't been his best.

"I felt fluid and felt like I had my legs under me this game," he said. "I had room to skate. I felt like we did a good job of reading off each other."

Nashville added insurance at 2:23 of the third period when another defenseman, Ryan Ellis, unloaded a booming slapper from the right faceoff circle into the top right corner for his first goal.

The Senators (7-5-0) couldn't really muster up much of a response besides Turris' goal as the Predators controlled most of the last 10 minutes. It was the continuation of a troubling trend for Ottawa, which has managed just five goals in its past four games.

"We came out real strong in the first 10 minutes and had five scoring chances to their one," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "After that, we got a little impatient. We started turning the puck over. They're a freewheeling team with high-end skill. We didn't want to fall into their game, but we did."

Anderson (6-3-0) stopped 27 shots, allowing more than two goals in a game for the first time since a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 22.

NOTES: Ottawa D Chris Wideman (upper-body injury) missed his third straight game. ... Nashville recalled G Juuse Saros and LW Pontus Aberg from Milwaukee of the AHL while sending G Marek Mazanec, LW Kevin Fiala and LW Harry Zolnierczyk to Milwaukee. ... The Senators are playing their second set of back-to-back games, as they travel to Buffalo for a contest Wednesday night. ... The Predators scratched C Mike Fisher (upper-body injury) and D Matt Carle. ... Nashville plays host to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.