Saad's OT goal gives Blackhawks win over Predators
CHICAGO -- Brandon Saad scored the game-winning goal at 3:05 of overtime to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Patrick Sharp scored during regulation for the Blackhawks. Chicago (4-1-1) improved to 3-1-0 on home ice this season and 1-1 in overtime.
Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators (2-2-1). It was Nashville's first overtime game of the season.
Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 37 shots to pick up his fourth victory. Nashville's Pekka Rinne made 33 saves.
Saad scored shortly after a line change during three-on-three play in overtime. Right winger Patrick Kane fed Saad as he charged toward the net, and Saad buried his sixth goal of the season.
Nashville opened the scoring on Forsberg's power-play goal with 1:44 remaining in the second period. The scoring sequence started when P.K. Subban unleashed a wrist shot from in front of the blue line. Left winger Scott Hartnell parked in front of the crease and redirected the puck to Forsberg, who turned to his backhand for his team-leading fifth goal.
Chicago evened the score at 1 on a goal by Sharp with 5:36 remaining in the third period. Blackhawks right winger John Hayden fed a pass toward the right side of the net to Sharp, who quickly swept a backhanded shot past Rinne's stick side for his second goal.
Both goaltenders made stellar saves to keep their teams in contention.
In the first period, Rinne stuffed Blackhawks right winger Richard Panik on a breakaway. Panik tried to beat Rinne through the five-hole, but Rinne closed his pads just in time and held on for a whistle.
Crawford made a dazzling kick save on a one-timer by Predators defenseman Matt Irwin early in the second period. The Blackhawks quickly cleared the puck out of the zone to end the scoring chance.
NOTES: Predators D Yannick Weber did not play two days after sustaining a hard check to the head from Dallas Stars C Martin Hanzal. The NHL has not announced any punishment for the hit. ... Blackhawks C Nick Schmaltz missed his fourth game in a row because of an upper-body injury. Schmaltz participated in the team's morning skate and expects to return to game action soon. ... Predators D Roman Josi sat out for the third consecutive game because of a lower-body injury. ... Blackhawks D Cody Franson returned to the ice after missing the previous game as a healthy scratch.