Laviolette: Scratching Ribeiro was 'just a lineup decision'

Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette wasn't interested in going into detail about his decision to scratch Mike Ribeiro for Game 3 against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

"It's just a lineup decision that I made," Laviolette told reporters following the Predators' 4-1 win, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean.

Ribeiro recorded only one point in nine playoff games before sitting Tuesday, and managed only three combined shots on goal in the first two games of the second-round series.

Pontus Aberg made his NHL debut in Ribeiro's absence, logging 8:27 of ice time with no points or shots on goal.

The Predators defeated the Sharks 4-1 to cut San Jose's second-round series lead to 2-1.