|
Captain Jonathan Toews was the only one of five players to score
in the shootout, providing the game-winner for the Western
Conference leading Blackhawks. It was Chicago's fifth shootout win
in six tries this season.
"Certain games will stick out at the end of the year that we'll say
that were a huge two points and tonight is probably leading in that
category, as far as drama," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.
"Down 3-0 to a team that doesn't give up a whole lot, checks well
and then you have to pull the goalie and try to get an equalizer
(and) have to kill a penalty with five minutes to go.
"It's a big win. Very resilient by our guys. It was a big swing, big
turn of events tonight."
Chicago won 16 of its last 20 games.
Chicago got goals from centers Brad Richards and Andrew Shaw, right
winger Marian Hossa and left winger Bryan Bickell in regulation
while defenseman Duncan Keith also added a season-high three
assists.
"We've been in a lot of situations over the years where we know that
we're never out of it," Keith said. "At the same time, we have a lot
of respect for a team like Nashville.
"We're always excited to play in those games where there's a lot of
attention and playing against a good team with some star players and
I think it's going to be a great experience."
Nashville, which has now lost three of its last seven games, was led
by a pair of goals from left winger James Neal. Defenseman Roman
Josi and center Craig Smith also scored.
"The only way to beat that is you have to be on the offense more
than them and you have to be physical with their skill guys," Neal
said. "I thought we did a good job shooting pucks and going to the
net tonight. Just a few little things, we clean that up and we can
win the hockey game."
It appeared that Nashville might win the game, leading 4-3 late in
the third period. But Chicago tied the game with 1:13 left in
regulation on Bickell's fifth goal of the season, sending the
contest into overtime and eventually the shootout.
Crawford stopped 36 of Nashville's 40 shots, as well as all three in
the shootout.
Nashville counterpart Pekka Rinne stopped 38 of Chicago's 42 shots.
Rinne is now 23-7-1 on the season in the net for the Predators.
Chicago remains atop the NHL Western Conference with a 25-10-2 mark,
while its closest challenger, Nashville, falls to 23-9-3.
Nashville jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals by Josi and Smith in
the first period, and Neal's first goal of the night in the second
period, which came on an unusual turn of events.
[to top of second column] |
Neal's slap shot from the wing bounced off the body of Chicago
defenseman Johnny Oduya and caromed into the Blackhawks' goal.
Chicago finally broke the 3-0 shutout at 10:33 of the second period
when Richards scored his seventh goal of the season. It was his
first game back in the lineup after missing the previous three games
with an upper-body injury.
The Blackhawks closed Nashville's lead to 3-2 at 15:48 of the
second period on Shaw's sixth goal of the season. Less than two
minutes later, Hossa scored his eighth goal of the season on a
30-foot slap shot on the power play at 17:43.
Unfortunately, a Chicago mental mistake led to Nashville regaining
the lead just over a minute later. The Blackhawks were called for
having too many men on the ice, paving the way for Neal to score his
second goal of the game at 19:04, also on the power play, and
putting the Predators back on top at 4-3.
NOTES: Nashville announced before the game it traded C Derek Roy to
Edmonton for C Mark Arcobello. With seven goals and five assists in
36 games with the Oilers, Arcobello, 26, is expected to join the
Predators for Tuesday's home game vs. St. Louis. Roy, who cleared
waivers earlier in the day, signed with Nashville during the
offseason but has just one goal and nine assists in 26 games this
season. ... Blackhawks F Patrick Sharp played in his 700th career
NHL game on Monday, while C Andrew Shaw is now one game away from
his 200th career NHL game. Predators' C Mike Ribeiro played in his
900th career NHL game Monday, as well. ... Chicago D Michal
Rozsival, who has been ailing with a lower-body injury, took part in
Monday morning's skate and appears ready to return to the lineup for
Chicago's New Year's Day outdoor game vs. the Capitals in
Washington. ... Attendance for the game was 22,208.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
