National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Nashville 7, Chicago 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 16, 2013
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Francis Charron, Dave Jackson
Linesmen: Darren Gibbs, Brad Lazarowich
Attendance: 17113


Predators 7, Blackhawks 2: Craig Smith had a goal and two assists and Nashville celebrated its return home from a lengthy road trip by thrashing Chicago to snap a four-game losing streak.

Matt Cullen, Patric Hornqvist and captain Shea Weber each had a goal and an assist and Nick Spaling, former Blackhawk Viktor Stalberg and Mike Fisher also tallied for the Predators, who were outscored 17-2 in the final four contests of their seven-game, 17-day trek. Rookie Marek Mazanec earned his first NHL victory by making 39 saves to halt the Blackhawks' four-game winning streak.

Patrick Kane and Brandon Pirri scored for Chicago, which lost backup goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin to a lower-body injury late in the first period. Corey Crawford turned aside 17 shots as the Blackhawks absorbed their first regulation defeat in nine games (7-1-1).

Nashville got a pair of goals 57 seconds apart from Cullen and Spaling to take a 2-0 lead against Khabibulin, who was hurt with 4:27 left in the opening period. Hornqvist tipped in a slap shot by defenseman Roman Josi on the power play and Smith put a backhander by Crawford for a 4-0 edge at 18:18 of the second period but Kane got the Blackhawks on the board 26 seconds later.

Pirri's goal shortly after a power play expired cut the deficit to 4-2 at 6:14 of the third, but Stalberg abruptly halted the comeback by scoring 15 seconds later to restore the three-goal edge. Fisher and Weber scored less than two minutes apart to complete the drubbing.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Khabibulin, making his first start since Oct. 29, was hurt attempting to make a sprawling save and had to be assisted off the ice while hunched over. ... Josi and C David Legwand had two assists each while Weber collected his 300th career point with his assist on Hornqvist's goal. ... Blackhawks F Marian Hossa was a surprise scratch before the game due to a lower-body injury. Hossa sat out Friday's practice, but coach Joel Quenneville termed it a rest day.
Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   Nashville
Patrick Kane 1 Points Craig Smith 3
Patrick Kane 1 Goals Craig Smith 1
Brandon Bollig 1 Assists Craig Smith 2
N/A Power Play Goals Patric Hornqvist 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Corey Crawford .773 Save Percentage Marek Mazanec .951
Corey Crawford 17 Saves Marek Mazanec 39
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Chicago 41 2 0-4 3-5 15 24
Nashville 30 7 2-5 4-4 13 43
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Predators have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against San Jose. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .643 after a win and .667 after a loss.