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DETROIT – This was more like the defensive performance the Detroit Red Wings hoped for coming into the season, the type of effort they need to win games.
It helps when your goaltender is the best player on the ice.
Cam Talbot made 42 saves Saturday for his 32nd career shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators at Little Caesars Arena.
J.T. Compher. Andrew Copp and Dylan Larkin scored goals.
This was an important victory for the Red Wings, coming off a poor defensive showing in a 6-3 to Pittsburgh and with their next two games against the defending Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers, Monday in New York (7 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit) and Thursday at home.
Talbot relieved an ineffective Ville Husso at 5:28 of the second period in the season-opener and stopped 12-of-14 shots.
The Red Wings signed the 12-year veteran Talbot to a two-year contract at a $2.5 million average annual value in the offseason.
Compher’s goal at 1:02 of the second period was the only scoring through 40 minutes. It was a net-front tip-in of Ben Chiarot’s shot from the point.
Copp made it 2-0 at 6:35 of the third. The puck slid off his stick and hit the goal post. Nashville goalie Jusse Saros tried to smother it but it slid under him and into the net.
Larkin sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:40.
Talbot found a rhythm early on and made 16 saves in the first period to keep it scoreless.
Nashville, which spent big money in the offseason signing free-agent forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, fell to 0-2-0.
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