Blackhawks 2, Predators 1 (OT)
Captain Jonathan Toews scored a short-handed goal at 3:26 of overtime to lift host Chicago past Nashville.
Toews intercepted a drop-pass attempt at the Predators' blue line and broke in alone on Carter Hutton, who denied the initial attempt before Toews punched home the rebound for his first goal of the season. Defenseman Johnny Oduya scored in the opening two minutes and Corey Crawford made 19 saves as the Blackhawks bounced back from a 2-1 overtime defeat to Calgary.
Captain Shea Weber scored a power-play goal for the Predators, who came away with three points on a back-to-back at Winnipeg and Chicago. Hutton turned aside 35 consecutive shots after Oduya's goal before Toews spoiled his stellar season debut.
Hutton got off to a wobbly start when the first shot he faced - a slapper by Oduya from the top of the left faceoff circle - went between his pads 1:49 into the contest. Weber drew Nashville even just after the Blackhawks killed off a 5-on-3 disadvantage, hammering a slap shot over the shoulder of Crawford with 8:43 left in the first period for his third goal.
The Predators managed only seven shots through the first two sessions but nearly went ahead six minutes into the third, only to see Crawford thwart Craig Smith from alone in front. Hutton came up big, denying a backhander by defenseman Brent Seabrook before making a pair of late stops on Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Blackhawks, who poured 50 shots on net in the loss to the Flames, have outshot their opponents 57-14 over the first two periods of their last two games. ... Predators C Mike Ribeiro assisted on Weber's tally to give him points in three straight games. ... Blackhawks F Kris Versteeg, sidelined with a lower-body injury since Oct. 7, skated with the team Saturday and will be re-evaluated Monday to determine when he can rejoin the lineup.