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 So, too, is the Hart Trophy-caliber season the Chicago Blackhawks'
right winger is authoring.
Enjoying his 20th multi-point game of the season, Kane notched a
goal and an assist Tuesday night in Chicago's 12th straight victory,
a 4-1 decision over the Nashville Predators at sold-out Bridgestone
Arena.
"It's fun to win 12 in a row," Kane said. "It's something we can be
proud about. But there's always things we can do better."
Pressed as to what the Blackhawks (32-13-4) can improve on during
their historic run, Kane said playing with a lead and spending more
time in the offensive zone.
"I guess sometimes, when you're winning games, you're nit-picking a
little bit," he said. "But we're still finding ways to win. I think
through a 12-game winning streak, you're not going to play your best
every night."
Perhaps not, but Chicago's level of play was a bit too much for
Nashville (20-18-8) to handle. Although the Predators owned a 39-27
advantage in shots on goal, they didn't generate enough point-blank
chances and also made a spate of puck-handling errors.
They were guilty of 15 giveaways, including one in the first
period's last minute that put the Blackhawks on the board. Center
Artem Anisimov pounced on a loose puck and poked a backhander past
goalie Pekka Rinne at 19:38.
"We shot ourselves in the foot with big mistakes," Nashville coach
Peter Laviolette said. "Tonight it was turnovers in the middle of
the ice. You can't afford those kind of errors against a team like
that."
Kane picked up the secondary assist on that marker, but was back for
more early in the second period.
After rookie left winger Richard Panik made it 2-0 with a wrister
from the top of the right faceoff circle at 2:43, Predators
defenseman Ryan Ellis ripped a slapper from the point 25 seconds
later for their lone goal.
Nashville's momentum lasted exactly 60 seconds, enough time for Kane
to notch his 30th goal as he rocketed down the middle with a
breakout pass from left winger Artemi Panarin and beat Rinne with a
backhander.
"I was taking off after the defenseman shot it and (Panarin) put it
on my stick," Kane said.
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That was it for Chicago's offense, other than an empty-netter from
left winger Andrew Desjardins at 19:23 of the third period. But the
Blackhawks relied on solid defense and quality goaltending from
Corey Crawford for the night's remainder.
In beating the Predators for the third time this year, Crawford came
up with 38 saves, 16 in a busy third period. His top stop came just
before the midway mark of the third as he lunged to his right and
denied right winger Craig Smith's backhander on a breakaway.
"Even with the amount of shots we gave up, I thought it was still a
pretty solid game defensively," Crawford said. "I don't remember too
many shots from the slot. We're really taking that away."
Rinne came up with 23 saves but still absorbed his fifth straight
loss and has allowed three or more goals in eight of his last nine
games.
While Nashville starts a tough four-game road trip through Western
Canada Thursday night against Winnipeg, the Blackhawks try to extend
their record streak in Tampa Bay.
"Everything about our game is working right now," Crawford said.
NOTES: Starting with Tuesday night's game, Chicago plays seven of
its next eight games on the road. ... Nashville LW Colin Wilson and
LW Gabriel Bourque remain on the shelf with lower-body and
upper-body injuries, respectively. ... The Blackhawks scratched LW
Brandon Mashinter, D Rob Scuderi and C Marcus Kruger. ... Predators
scratches were D Petter Granberg and LW Austin Watson.
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