Tyson Barrie scored his first goal for Nashville, Juuse Saros made 27 saves, but Phil Tomasino left the game after taking a hard hit in the Predators win over the Blackhawks.

The Nashville Predators headed to United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Both teams were adjusting to changes to their respective rosters after the trade deadline passed Friday afternoon. The Blackhawks entered tonight's game with a 21-26-5 record and last place in the Central Division. Nashville is technically still in the playoff hunt sitting six points out of a wildcard spot with a few games in hand. 

Game Recap

The Blackhawks came out and scored quickly on a give and go as Seth Jones scored on his former Nashville team less than a minute into play. It took Nashville several minutes to get their first shot on goal and settle into the game. Yakov Trenin and Luke Evangelista each created great opportunities to score but couldn't finish. 

Nashville got their first power play opportunity at 7:58 as Jason Dickinson headed to the penalty box for boarding. Phil Tomasino scooped up a loose rebound in front of Mrazek and buried it to tie the game at 9:36. 

Nashville got another chance on the man advantage after another boarding call as Phil Tomasino was slammed into the boards at 12:36. Yakov Trenin also went to the box for roughing as he defended his teammate, and the teams played two minutes of four on four hockey. Neither team could capitalize on the extra open ice, and the teams returned to five a side. The teams battled back and forth, but when the opening period ended the score remained 1-1. 

The second period started without Phil Tomasino on the bench after taking the hard hit in the first period. Nashville started with sloppy hockey and didn't generate much in the way of offensive chances early. The Predators still did not have a shot on net at 6:39 as Kiefer Sherwood gave the Blackhawks their first power play chance due to an interference call. Chicago got two shots on net, but Saros made the necessary saves and the teams returned to full strength. 

Despite their limited offensive chances, Nashville earned their first lead of the night on a blue line shot from new Predator Tyson Barrie at 12:08. The Predators earned a power play opportunity at 15:01 as Cole Guttman was called for a hook on Luke Evangelista. Nashville wasn't able to convert on the man advantage, but earned another power play chance as the period would down. The Preds pressured offensively on the delayed penalty, and the period ended with Chicago touching up.

Nashville started the final period on the power play, but neither power play unit could capitalize. Nashville's best chance in the opening half of the third was a quick cross ice pass from Cole Smith to Colton Sissons, but Mrazek made the save. At 9:24 Tommy Novak headed to the penalty box for a hook, and Nashville's penalty kill went to work. Chicago pressured, but Nashville was able to escape the two minutes.

At 14:54 Roman Josi and Caleb Jones headed to their respective penalty boxes after a dustup against the boards, and the teams played four on four once again. Neither team capitalized, and the teams returned to full strength with no harm done. With two minutes left, the Blackhawks pulled Mrazek and added the extra attacker. Saros made a save through traffic with less than a minute to go, and Colton Sissons found the empty net after a puck scramble by Cole Smith. The final buzzer sounded and the Predators left Chicago with two valuable points after their 3-1 win. 

Game Notes

1. This was not the performance Nashville wanted. The emotion of the last week carried Nashville through their games against Pittsburgh and Florida, but tonight the team struggled to find a spark on the ice. It wasn't great hockey, but it got the job done against a Blackhawk team working through their own "retooling". When it comes to the playoff race, two points from an ugly game as worth as much as two points from a fancy game.

2. Phil Tomasino didn't return to the game in the second and third periods. Tomasino took a hard hit in the first period, but didn't return to the ice after the first intermission. Losing Tomasino would be a blow for the team and for the young forward who is proving he is ready for his NHL ice time this season.

3. The power play is cooking for Nashville. The Predators scored again tonight on the power play. They have scored a power play goal in five of their last six outings, and Phil Tomasino has recorded two in recent games. Special teams goals can be game changers, and seeing some life on the man advantage is encouraging. 

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