Blackhawks Crush the Predators 6-1

[February 15, 2008]  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Jonathan Toews scored a pair of goals and assisted on another and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 6-1 Thursday night. Duncan Keith, Rene Bourque, Cam Barker and Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks.

Jason Arnott scored for the Predators.

Toews was playing in his third game since missing 16 with a sprained knee. These were his first goals since his return. He had a pair of assists in his first two games.

This was the last game of a seven-game road trip for the Blackhawks and their second game in as many nights.

Keith opened the scoring a little more than a minute into the game setting the tone for the Blackhawks as he scored on a one-timer from low inside the left faceoff circle against Nashville goaltender Chris Mason.

Toews scored the first of his two goals at 6:22 when he skated down the left side and around the back of the net to score on a wraparound behind Mason's back.

At 12:42, Toews struck again from the left circle as he put the puck between Mason's leg pads.

After the third goal, Mason was sent to the bench and replaced by Dan Ellis.

In the second period, the Blackhawks did not let up. At 2:28, Brent Sopel skated just inside the blue line and sent the puck into the slot. Bourque, near the top of the slot, beat Ellis to his glove side.

Barker scored the fifth goal less than a minute later. He blasted a one-timer from high inside the left circle that went past Ellis wide to his left.

In the third period, Sharp took a shot from the left circle that beat Ellis to his stick side for the sixth goal for the Blackhawks at 3:47.

Arnott scored on the power play from the middle of the slot, catching Patrick Lalime out of position at 6:12.

Notes: This was the third time this season the Blackhawks have beaten the Predators by scoring five or goals. Nashville's Kevin Klein was reassigned to Milwaukee of the American Hockey League for a conditioning assignment. Chicago recalled Corey Crawford from Rockford of the AHL as a backup goaltender. The Blackhawks are 16-1-1 when scoring more than four goals in a game. They are 6-6-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. Arnott scored his 20th goal of the season and his 750th career point.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.