PITTSBURGH _ After two games, a pair of losses and 15 goals allowed, a response from the Penguins was definitely in order.
Perhaps, then, it was appropriate that it took them exactly 66 seconds to get started.
Or that Evgeni Malkin was the one kicking this thing into gear.
Or that an emotionally charged Sidney Crosby contributed a pair of assists, the second one sure to land on a few highlight reels.
The Penguins used a rematch of June's Stanley Cup final to snag their first win of the season, a 4-0 blowout of the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena, and they steadied the ship with an across-the-board quality performance.
Malkin and Jake Guentzel scored their first goals of the season. Olli Maatta finished that dazzling Crosby feed _ no look, from the right corner, back out to above the left circle _ for his team-high second goal of the season.
Matt Murray stopped 26 shots to earn the shutout, while Ryan Reaves scored his first goal as a Penguin, fought twice, won both and delivered seven hits.
More than any number can illustrate, however, the Penguins won this game because they listened to what Sullivan said Thursday.
After canceling practice in favor of a video session, Sullivan emphasized the need for his team to pay the price physically, to engage and not cut corners. The Penguins didn't. They also managed the puck appropriately, another Sullivan edict.
With no shortage of emotion left over from June, they held their own physically _ a charge led by Reaves, who squared off with Austin Watson in the second period and Cody McLeod in the third, winning both and decidedly tossing McLeod to the ice following his latter victory.
As far as individual turnarounds, Murray's was especially noticeable. He was touched for five goals Wednesday in the season-opener and six more Thursday, in relief of Antti Niemi.
On Saturday, Murray looked more relaxed, his puck-tracking noticeably better.
Then again, the Penguins' defensive play in front of Murray was 100 times better as well.
Through the first two games of the season, the Penguins struggled to pick up the late man and gave up rush chances like Halloween candy.
Whether it was better puck management, better communication or simply a heightened awareness, that didn't happen Saturday.
A little more than a minute in, Malkin won a puck battle in the defensive zone. In Nashville territory, Phil Kessel left a pass for Malkin in the high slot.
Malkin stepped into the one-timer with plenty of force and beat Juuse Saros for his first goal of the season.
The goal gave Malkin points in every game this season. He also has at least a point in every home game he's ever played against the Predators, regular season and playoffs.
It looked like Nashville was going to tie the score after an Olli Maatta turnover a few minutes later, but Matt Murray made a clutch pad save on Pontus Aberg, denying the breakaway chance.
That set up a rebound goal from Jake Guentzel _ like Malkin, getting his first of the season.
The marker gave Guentzel five goals in eight games played _ regular season and playoffs _ against the Predators in his career.
Brian Dumoulin shot it. Crosby and Bryan Rust had whacks at rebounds. Saros stopped those, but Guentzel, coming in late, converted for a 2-0 lead at 10:57.
The Penguins lost a key defenseman late in the first period when Ian Cole took a Roman Josi slapshot to the mouth at 14:51.
Carl Hagelin swooped in to pick up a few of Cole's teeth, while Cole _ a towel used to stop the bleeding _ skated off under his own power.
Murray made another key save late _ one of 11 in the opening period for him _ stopping a scoring chance from Colton Sissons that former Penguin Nick Bonino helped produce.
The Penguins nearly closed the first with a fourth-line goal. Ryan Reaves separated Anthony Bitetto from the puck, and Carter Rowney fed Tom Kuhnhackl for a terrific opportunity that Kuhnhackl was unable to convert.
Reaves continued with the offense in the second period when he scored his first goal as a Penguin on a deflection for a 3-0 lead at 12:52. Maatta took the shot from the right point. Reaves and Kris Letang both went for the tip, and the puck went off Reaves' stick.
