Predators blank Blackhawks for Game 1 win
CHICAGO -- Viktor Arvidsson scored a goal, and Pekka Rinne made 29 saves in his second career playoff shutout as the Nashville Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 1-0 on Thursday in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Rinne made 11 saves in the third period and preserved the victory in the final two minutes when the Blackhawks pulled Corey Crawford to gain an extra attacker.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday night at the United Center.
Arvidsson redirected a Filip Forsberg shot and past Crawford at the 7:52 mark of the first period for the game's lone goal. The Blackhawks, who had an early shots-on-goal advantage, went 13:46 of the first period without a shot before defenseman Duncan Keith ended the drought from center ice in the closing seconds.
The Blackhawks amped up their energy in the second period. Chicago had 12 shots on goal and nearly tallied the equalizer with several point-blank chances, but Rinne preserved the one-goal lead in what was the first road playoff shutout in Predators history.
Arvidsson nearly extended Nashville's lead to two goals late in the third period on a breakaway chance. Arvidsson beat Crawford, but his shot hit the crossbar, which kept the Blackhawks within striking distance.
Crawford finished with 19 saves for Chicago.
NOTES: Predators C Calle Jarnkrok returned to the lineup after missing Nashville's regular-season finale due to a lower-body injury. Jarnkrok participated in Thursday's morning skate, but his status for Game 1 was unknown until he took the ice Thursday night. ... Nashville LW Colin Wilson remained out with a lower-body injury. ... Blackhawks C Artem Anisimov returned after missing the final 13 games of the regular season with a foot injury. Anisimov centered a line with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin after returning to practice on Tuesday. "We'll gauge his effectiveness and energy as we're going along here," coach Joel Quenneville said Thursday morning. "We'll budget him for a regular spot and see how he handles it." ... Chicago scratched F Andrew Desjardins (lower body) and D Michal Rozsival (upper body).