Depleted Blackhawks, Connor Bedard Shut Down in 3-0 Loss in Nashville

The injury-depleted Chicago Blackhawks tried to keep things structured, smart and simple at Nashville against the Predators on Tuesday night.

For the most part the Blackhawks did, but they generated little offensive energy and were blanked by the Predators 3-0. Chicago managed only 21 shots on Juuse Saros in his 22nd career shutout and attempted only 44 total.

The Preds keyed in effectively on NHL leading rookie scorer Connor Bedard. The 18-year-old finished with no shots on goal and just two attempts that were blocked.

And the Blackhawks casualty list got longer when forward Anthony Beauvillier suffered an upper-body injury in the second period and didn't return. Chicago started the game without forwards Tyler Johnson (foot), Taylor Raddysh (groin), Andreas Athanasiou (groin), Joey Anderson (lower body) and top defenseman Seth Jones (shoulder). 

Taylor Hall has been long lost for the season following right ACL surgery.

Coach Luke Richardson ran his team through battle drills in practice on Monday. He was encouraged by his team's progress and improved competitiveness after an 8-1 loss in Dallas on New Year's Eve.

"I thought the guys battled and it was the first step of where we want to go," Richardson said. "We don't like the results we can't accept them in this league.

"Unfortunately we didn't get any luck around their net, but process of how we wanted to play was there." See following video.

Chicago goalie Arvid Söderblom was solid — even sensational at times —  in his first start since a 7-5 loss at St. Louis on Dec. 23. The 24-year-old Swede stopped 33 shots and managed the puck well, covering up often to slow the pace of play against his short-handed team.

Söderblom was beaten by Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O'Reilly for power-play goals. Luke Evangelista added an empty-netter with 33 seconds left.

Nyquist opened the scoring on a rising shot from the left circle during a 5-on-4 manpower advantage at 5:16 of the first period. O'Reilly made it 2-0 with a tap-in on a 5-on-3 with 4:37 left in the third.

Söderblom made a super save on Roman Josi with about 4 minutes left, kicking his pad up while lying on his side to stop the puck.

"I felt good, a little disappointed about that first goal," Söderblom said. "I felt like I could have done a better job there playing the shooter.  But other than that I felt like my game was where I want it to be." See following video. 

Beauvillier left midway through the second period after taking a hit from Filip Forsberg in the corner. Beauvillier was grasping his left wrist or forearm as he skated straight off the ice and went to the dressing room.

After the game, Richardson didn't have an update other than saying "It didn't look good."

Preds rugged defenseman Jeremy Lauzon crunched Philipp Kurashev along the back boards late in the second period and Nick Foligno responded by taking on Lauzon in a fight. The 36-year-old Foligno got in some good swings against the 26-year-old Lauzon.

Lauzon and Foligno each got fighting majors and Foligno was assessed an extra two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Preds dominated the first period possession-wise and outshot the Blackhawks 16-5. Nyquist opened the scoring when he closed from the left circle and whistled a rising shot past Söderblom's shoulder.

O'Reilly tapped in Forsberg's pass across the front of the crease from the backdoor during the 5-on-3 with 4:37 left to make it 2-0. Evangelista sealed it with Söderblom on the bench for the extra attacker