The Chicago Blackhawks’ recent struggles continued as the Nashville Predators held on for a 4-3 road victory on Friday.
Steven Stamkos, Luke Evangelista, and Ryan O’Reilly each had a goal and an assist, Matthew Wood also scored and Jusse Saros finished with 24 saves for the Predators, who won their second game in a row.
Arvid Soderblom stopped 25 shots while Ryan Donato, Ryan Greene and Teuvo Teravainen tallied for the Blackhawks, who have lost five straight (0-4-1).
O’Reilly buried the eventual game-winning goal after taking a pass from Evangelista with 12:45 left in the third to put the Predators ahead 4-2.
The Blackhawks controlled the play in the opening period, culminating in a last-minute goal from Donato.
Mere seconds after Brady Skjei’s double-minor penalty expired, Donato carried the puck into the offensive zone before wiring a shot over the blocker of Saros.
Connor Bedard had multiple good looks in the opening period, including an opportunity less than five minutes in as he split two Predator defenders, before being denied by Saros.
Wood snuck in behind Chicago coverage and lifted his shot over the glove of Soderblom to knot up the contest just under two minutes into the second period.
Soderblom made sure to stop things from getting out of hand as he stretched his pad across to deny Ozzy Wiesblatt’s one timer just moments after allowing the game-tying goal.
Stamkos took advantage of the change in momentum as he gave Nashville the lead with 12:42 left in the second, redirecting a perfect pass from Nick Blankenburg.
Andre Burakovsky had a golden opportunity to tie things up for Chicago with 8:33 left in the second, but missed the net on a breakaway.
Bedard had another chance just moments after Burakovsky’s failed breakaway attempt, but Saros once again turned aside the Blackhawks’ leading scorer.
Chicago capitalized on the man advantage with just under five minutes left in the middle frame as Greene took a pass from Moore and fired the puck past Saros.
Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, the score didn’t stay 2-2 for long as Evangelista sent the puck between Soderblom’s legs with 3:33 left in the second to retake the lead. The deadlock lasted all of 73 seconds.
Following O’Reilly’s goal, Chicago got within 3-2 when Saros slipped up with 9:32 left in the contest as he misplayed a puck behind his net. Teravainen tapped it into the empty cage.
Chicago had to kill off a late penalty, which expired with 1:29 remaining. Bedard’s final effort with nine seconds left was stopped by Saros.
–Field Level Media
