The Red Wings and Predators square off at a NHL hockey game in Detroit on Friday, March 30, 2012. Nashville Predators right wing Alexander Radulov (47), of Russia, celebrates his goal during the third period. The Predators won 4-1. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
DETROIT -- Gabriel Bourque and Francis Bouillon scored in the second period and Pekka Rinne made 31 saves to help the Nashville Predators beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Friday night for coach Barry Trotz's 500th victory with the franchise.
Nashville moved a point ahead of Detroit with four games left in the regular season to be the fourth-seeded team with home-ice advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Red Wings were held scoreless on three power plays in the second period in part because Rinne made a sprawling glove save to prevent Henrik Zetterberg from scoring off a rebound.
Detroit's Jimmy Howard stopped 23 shots after missing four straight games with a groin injury.
The Predators sealed the victory early in the third period when Alexander Radulov got open in front of the net took advantage of Andrei Kostitsyn's perfect pass for a three-goal lead.
Detroit ended Rinne's shutout bid with 3:03 left when Jiri Hudler flicked a shot into the open net off Henrik Zetterberg's cross-crease pass. Nashville's Shea Weber added an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Trotz is the fifth coach to win 500 games with one franchise, joining the New York Islanders' Al Arbour, Buffalo's Lindy Ruff, Chicago's Billy Reay and Montreal's Toe Blake.
The Predators have won three of their last four games.
Detroit, meanwhile, is struggling down the stretch toward its 21st straight postseason with eight losses in its last 10 games.
Nashville split the six-game season series with Detroit in their last scheduled game, but the teams might meet again for the third time in the postseason.
The Predators entered the game having killed 39 of the previous 43 penalties against them, then refused to let an extra skater be an advantage for Detroit in the pivotal second period.
NOTES: Nashville's Roman Josi (upper body) was in the lineup after missing nine games, Martin Erat (upper body) played after missing two games and Jordin Tootoo was back after missing a game following a fight. ... Howard had played in just eight of Detroit's previous 25 games, limited by a broken finger and groin injury shortly after his first All-Star game. ... Rinne is 11-5-3 against the Red Wings in his career with four shutouts. ... Nashville is 32-3-4 when it scores first and 29-2-3 when leading after two periods. ... Zetterberg had four goals and four assists in his previous four games. ... The Red Wings are three points away from extending their NHL record with 12 straight 100-point seasons.
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