Die Jäger des Schicksals » classical race on Saturday

PITTSBURGH -- The star-studded, but dormant, Pittsburgh Penguins offence woke up just in time to snap a losing streak. James Neal and Brandon Sutter each had a goal and an assist, and the Penguins won for the first time in four games, 4-1 over the Nashville Predators on Friday night. Pittsburgh scored one goal in each game during the losing streak. The Penguins scored four times for the second time in their past 11 games in improving to 8-3 at home. "I think we had as many -- if not more -- chances last game and we couldnt find the back of the net, but tonight it felt good to get on the board," Neal said. "After we got the first goal, we started rolling and we didnt look back." Playing in his fourth game of the season because of an upper-body injury, Neal -- a former 40-goal scorer -- netted his first of the season late in the first period to give the Penguins a lead they didnt relinquish against the road-weary Predators. Nashville lost the final four of a franchise-record, 17-day, seven-game trip. Gabriel Bourque scored 2:28 in but the Predators were held to one or fewer goals for the fourth consecutive game. "This was just a frustrating game all the way around," said Predators centre Mike Fisher, who returned after missing four games because of a lower-body injury. "Weve got to be much better. Ive got to be much better, and weve got to find ways to score here. Its not acceptable." Pascal Dupuis and Kris Letang also scored, and Evgeni Malkin extended his point streak to six with two assists for Pittsburgh. Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves. The Penguins, who have held opponents under three goals in seven of eight games, had a 33-18 advantage in shots. "It was one of those games where we knew it was a matter of time," Dupuis said. "We were going to play the 60 minutes the way we wanted to play. Thats what it looked like tonight." Nashville, which entered 7-0-2 when scoring first, couldnt take advantage of an early lead given. Bourque shoved a puck past Fleury after it had deflected off of Malkins stick and Penguins defenceman Olli Maattas skate after Kevin Kleins shot from the point. Bourque, who scored his second of the season, missed Nashvilles previous game because of the birth of his first child. That lead lasted just 10 minutes before Dupuis and Neal scored 2:20 apart to put the Penguins in front in the first period. "The guys played an awesome game after that (Nashville goal)," Fleury said. "We dominated the game." Dupuis second of the season -- a rising slap shot from the top of the left circle off a set faceoff play -- came at 12:36, shortly after Nashville killed a penalty for too many men on the ice. But with the Predators Ryan Ellis off for interference minutes later, Neal got a piece of Malkins slap shot from the point while he stood in front of rookie goalie Marek Mazanec. The 22-year-old Mazanec made his NHL debut a week earlier and had his first career start Tuesday. He stopped 21 of 25 shots in two periods, and fellow rookie Carter Hutton played the third. Mazanec made a spectacular glove save on Neal early in the second period, but Letang made it 3-1 with his fourth of the season at 7:58. "Itll be good to get home," Fisher said. "Its always tough to come off a long roadie, but obviously were all looking forward to getting home. Thats the longest trip Ive ever had." After skipping the morning skate because of illness, Letang scored off a feed from Malkin. Sutter made it 4-1 with 1:23 left in the second. "The second (period), we really took over the game," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "Shift after shift, we played in the offensive zone." Nashvilles Eric Nystrom was knocked out of the game by a punch to the head during a fight with Tanner Glass late in the second period. Bloodied from a cut on his forehead, Nystrom needed assistance and wobbled to the dressing room. He didnt return to the game. The previous time Nystrom played against the Penguins on Feb. 29, 2012, he delivered a controversial hit to the head of Letang, and the Pittsburgh defenceman was out of the lineup for two weeks. Then with the Dallas Stars, Nystrom was given a roughing penalty but wasnt disciplined further by the NHL. Glass wasnt with the Penguins then. Nystrom wasnt available for comment after the game, but about an hour after it ended he tweeted, "All good folks. Got popped behind the earhole! Weird spot. Appreciate the concern n support!!" NOTES: Pirates manager Clint Hurdle received a long ovation when he was recognized on the video board for being named the National League manager of the year this week. After the game, he was in the Penguins locker room accompanying his young son, who was celebrating a birthday and collecting autographs. . Penguins D Paul Martin returned after missing two games because of a lower-body injury. . The game was the 600th for Penguins LW Chris Kunitz and the 200th for Pittsburgh D Deryk Engelland. . Kunitz had gone more than 19 months since last being held consecutive games without a point. He was pointless for the third straight game. Martin Prado Jersey . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. Jose Fernandez Jersey . Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlins-Cameron-Maybin-Kids-Jersey/ . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. Brad Ziegler Jersey .500 ball against teams with winning records, so they needed a huge lift from somebody Tuesday night in a matchup of division leaders. Jeff Locke Jersey . Patty Mills scored 15 points, Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds in limited minutes, and San Antonio trailed for only 11 seconds late in the first quarter of a 103-90 victory over Portland on Wednesday night.TOBLACH, Italy - Marit Bjoergen of Norway picked up her second World Cup win of the weekend as she triumphed in the womens freestyle sprint in Toblach on Sunday, while compatriot Ola Vigen Hattestad was victorious in the mens event. In the last race before the Sochi Olympics, Bjoergen followed up her win in the 10-kilometre classical race on Saturday by beating World Cup sprint leader Denise Herrmann of Germany by 0.43 seconds for her fifth victory of the season. Fellow Norwegian Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg was third, 1.46 seconds behind. "I think my legs were a little bit tired after yesterday," Bjoergen said. "I didnt feel very fast in the qualification. But each heat I felt a little biit better and was able to advance each time.dddddddddddd I was able to get myself into good position off the downhill in the final to be able to get the win today." Kikkan Randall of the United States was fifth. Hattestad finished 0.69 seconds ahead of teammate Eirik Brandsdal. Josef Wenzl of Germany was third, 0.94 seconds behind. There was no change in the overall standings, with leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby absent. "This was a really great victory for me today," Hattestad said. "I knew I had strong legs and excellent skis so I am happy to win. I was told after the Norwegian championships that I wasnt ready for Sochi but I think today I showed that I am." ' ' '