Predators - 4, Blackhawks - 2: Gus Nyquist, Cole Smith, and Yakov Trenin Score as Preds Defeat Connor Bedard and Chicago Blackhawks

Cole Smith scored twice, Yakov Trenin netted his first goal of the season, and Kevin Lankinen saved 29 of 31 shots to help the Nashville Predators snap a four game losing streak with a win over Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Today the Nashville Predators welcomed the Chicago Blackhawks to Bridgestone Arena for a Saturday afternoon game. The 5-9 Blackhawks entered today's game on a two game losing streak, while the 5-10 Predators were hoping to snap a four game losing skid. Both teams were needing two points today to begin a slow climb out of the bottom of the Central Division. 

Andrew Brunette started Kevin Lankinen in net against the Blackhawks, Lankinen's third start of the season. Defenseman Spencer Stastney slotted into today's game for his first start of the season in Nashville. Stastney was recalled from Milwaukee on Tuesday and has played ten games with the Admirals this season, scoring one goal and four points. 

The Chicago Blackhawks started goalie Arvid Soderblom in net. 

The game started off with Alexandre Carrier visiting the penalty box for a crosscheck less than a minute into play. Nashville's penalty kill was able to clear the puck several times, Spencer Stastney blocked a shot, and Kevin Lankinen managed both shots on goal easily to kill off the two minutes. Yakov Trenin got the Predators on the board first with a shot from the circle at 12:07. 

A holding call on Lukas Reichel gave Nashville their first opportunity on the power play at 14:13, but the best chance of the two minutes came on a shathanded breakaway that Kevin Lankinen confidently scooped up. Shortly after the teams returned to full strength, Corey Perry was called for a trip at 17:12. Nashville generated more offensive pressure on this power play chance, and at 18:32 Gus Nyquist scored during a net front flurry.

The teams headed to their respective locker rooms with Nashville leading 13-9 in shots on goal and leading 2-0 on the scoreboard. 

The second period opened with back and forth play. Cody Glass, Luke Evangelista, and Kiefer Sherwood generated a stretch of extended offensive zone play early but couldn't convert the time into a score. Chicago responded with an offensive push of their own midway through the period. Philipp Kurashev scooped up a rebound and put it in the net past Lankinen to get Chicago back within one. 

Predators forward Cole Smith answered back at 16:20 diving to clean up the rebound after Arvid Soderblom couldn't contain the rebound on a Roman Josi shot. An interference call sent Corey Perry back to the penalty box and the Predators back on the power play. Nashville generated several shot on goal but couldn't cash in. The teams headed into the second intermission with Nashville leading 3-1. 

The third period started with Yakov Trenin serving two minutes for a high stick. Chicago's power play got two shots on goal, but Kevin Lankinen made the saves and the two minutes expired. The teams played a back and forth game through the first half of the final period. 

Chicago amped up their offensive pressure as the time wound down. A screen in front of Lankinen blocked his view and resulted in a goal by Tyler Johnson at 12:15 to get the Blackhawks back within one goal. Soderblom abandoned the net with just over two minutes remaining in the game, and Chicago added the extra attacker. Alexandre Carrier blocked a shot, the Predators tied the puck up in the corner, and once the puck came out Cole Smith skated it down to score the empty net goal. Nashville defeated the Blackhawks by a score of 4-2.