Blackhawks Sink Predators 3-1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Duncan Keith scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
Patrick Kane and Nick Leddy also scored for Chicago, which has won five of six.
Shea Weber scored for the Predators.
Keith scored the game's first goal at 1:29 of the opening period on a slap shot from the left side that beat Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton on the stick side.
Making his fourth consecutive start, Hutton had his three-game winning streak snapped. On Monday, he was selected the NHL's third star of the week. Hutton spent the past two seasons in the Blackhawks organization before signing with Nashville in the offseason.
Weber tied it at 3:03 of the first with a power-play goal.
On the right side, Roman Josi faked a shot and then sent a pass to Weber at the top of the right circle where the Nashville captain beat Chicago goaltender Antti Raanta with a one-timer.
That was the only goal Raanta allowed in the first, despite 17 Nashville shots on goal in the period. Chicago only allowed 11 Nashville shots over the final two periods combined.
The Blackhawks answered back at 16:14 of the first with a highlight reel power-play goal by Kane.
Skating down the right side, the left-handed shooting Kane lifted a tough angle backhand just underneath the crossbar for his team-leading 20th goal of the season.
It was the 10th straight game in which Kane has recorded at least one point, two shy of his career best.
Leddy scored on the power play at 11:33 of the second to cap the scoring.
Standing on the left side, he put home the rebound of Brandon Saad's shot from the right side. The puck entered and exited the net so quickly, it was initially ruled no goal on the ice, but a quick video review credited Leddy with his fourth of the season.
Notes: The Blackhawks have scored at least one power-play goal in their past 10 games. Chicago LW Bryan Bickell returned to the lineup after missing 14 games with a lower-body injury. Predators G Marek Mazanec missed the game with an illness. Magnus Hellberg was recalled under emergency conditions from Milwaukee of the AHL to serve as Hutton's backup.
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