Hartman hat trick carries Blackhawks past Predators
CHICAGO -- Ryan Hartman recorded his first career hat trick with three goals in the third period, including a pair of empty-net goals, and the Chicago Blackhawks pulled away for a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.
Left winger Artemi Panarin and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson also scored for the Blackhawks. Right winger Patrick Kane finished with three assists.
Chicago (26-12-5) won its third game in a row and improved to 16-4-4 on home ice.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm and left winger Austin Watson each scored for the Predators. Nashville (17-16-7) lost its second consecutive game and dropped to 7-11-2 on the road.
Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 25 of 27 shots to improve to 15-8-3.
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne turned aside 26 of 29 shots in the loss.
A fortunate bounce prompted Chicago to grab a 3-2 lead with 8:11 remaining in the third period. Right winger Richard Panik fluttered a shot as Hartman and Predators defenseman Yannick Weber converged at the right side of the crease. Panik's shot deflected off Hartman and dropped across the goal line moments before the net was knocked off its moorings.
Hartman added an empty-net goal with 1:14 remaining. He scored another empty-net goal with 31.6 seconds remaining to prompt fans to litter the ice with hats.
Nashville entered the third period with a one-goal deficit. Watson evened the score at 2 with 17:59 remaining after he spotted a loose puck behind Crawford and knocked in a backhand shot.
Chicago opened the scoring on a one-timer by Panarin with 12:15 remaining in the first period. Kane carried the puck across the blue line and slipped a pass to Panarin, who blasted a sharp-angle slap shot over Rinne's right shoulder.
Forty-five seconds later, Nashville got even. Ekholm scored on a low shot from the left circle for his second goal of the season and his first since Dec. 20.
The Blackhawks regained a 2-1 lead with 5:56 left in the first period. Hjalmarsson fired a slap shot from the high slot for his fifth goal of the season, which marked a career high. Center Artem Anisimov parked in front of the crease to screen the goaltender on Hjalmarsson's shot.
NOTES: Predators LW Viktor Arvidsson missed his second straight game because of an upper-body injury. The 23-year-old skated with his teammates Sunday morning, which offered a positive sign that he could return Tuesday against Vancouver. ... Blackhawks LW Vinnie Hinostroza remained on the top scoring line alongside C Jonathan Toews and RW Marian Hossa. The 22-year-old Notre Dame alum has impressed his coaches with his playmaking skills. ... Predators RW James Neal missed his third consecutive game because of an upper-body injury. Neal, who leads the team with 14 goals, was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. ... Blackhawks D Michal Rozsival was a healthy scratch. ... Predators C Colin Wilson did not play because of an undisclosed injury he sustained Friday against Florida. ... Predators RW Frederick Gaudreau played in his first NHL game since Dec. 10 after he was recalled from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night to replace Neal.