Rangers beat reeling Predators, 4-1

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard both had two assists, and the New York Rangers rebounded from a rare regulation loss and sent the NHL-leading Nashville Predators to their season-worst third straight defeat, 4-1 on Monday night.

Mattias Ekholm of the Nashville Predators skates against Martin St. Louis of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)

Marc Staal, Chris Kreider, Dominic Moore and Rick Nash had goals for the Rangers to make it a successful debut for defenseman Keith Yandle, acquired Sunday from Arizona. Cam Talbot stopped 25 shots to improve to 9-2-2 in place of injured No. 1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who turned 33 on Monday.

The Rangers, 12-2-2 in their past 16 games, moved into a tie with the Islanders atop the Metropolitan Division.

Zuccarello had a big game shortly after the Rangers announced he agreed to a four-year contract extension.

Filed Under: New York Rangers