Blackhawks 1, Predators 0: Ray Emery made 20 saves for his second shutout in three starts and Bryan Bickell scored the only goal as visiting Chicago claimed the first game of a weekend home-and-home series with Nashville.

Michal Handzus, acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline for a fourth-round pick, earned his first point with his new team after feeding Bickell with a perfect pass on a 2-on-1 at 5:31 of the first period. Emery, who only needed 16 saves when he blanked Calgary on March 26, registered his 13th career shutout and improved to 13-1-0 for the league-leading Blackhawks.

Pekka Rinne stopped 29 shots in his 23rd consecutive start for the Predators, who have one win in their last six contests (1-3-2) and are winless in three games against Central Division rival Chicago (0-2-1). Nashville trails St. Louis by four points for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference despite having played three more games.

Bickell scored his first goal in 12 games after Handzus froze Rinne by hesitating on the pass. Rinne reached across the crease in desperation, but Bickell made no mistake by flipping the puck into the open net.

Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo was assessed a double-minor for high-sticking Nashville captain Shea Weber 7:58 into the third period, but the Predators could not capitalize on the extended opportunity and finished the contest 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Nashville has one goal in its last 21 power-play opportunities.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Predators have been shut out seven times during this abbreviated campaign, including a 3-0 loss to Chicago on Feb. 10. ... Handzus registered a goal and an assist in 28 games with San Jose before being traded. ... Nashville D Hal Gill celebrated his 38th birthday by finishing minus-1 with one hit and two blocked shots in 11:51 ice time. Gill, who played in his 1,093rd NHL game, is the oldest player to play for the Predators. ... The Blackhawks and Predators meet again in Chicago on Sunday and finish their season series on April 19 - also at Chicago.