Predators 5, Blackhawks 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Patrick Kane's point-scoring streak reached 24 games Thursday night, but the Nashville Predators earned two points that mattered more to them.
Jumping out a 3-0 lead in the first period and getting a stellar effort from goalie Pekka Rinne, Nashville managed a split of its home-and-home series with the Chicago Blackhawks with a 5-1 verdict at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.
Rinne (12-7-5) bagged 35 saves in winning for just the second time since Nov. 17.
The Predators (15-9-5) jumped over Chicago (15-10-4), which beat them 4-1 Tuesday night, for third place in the Central Division.
The only puck that got past Rinne was one that Kane, a right winger who hasn't been held off the scoresheet since Oct. 15 at Washington, shoveled in off a rebound at 5:43 of the third period. Nashville coach Peter Laviolette challenged the ruling, but it was upheld via replay, cutting the Predators' lead to 3-1.
Right winger James Neal answered that goal with his second of the night at 14:55 of the period, and left winger Eric Nystrom's short-handed empty-netter at 18:46 capped the scoring.
Goalie Scott Darling (2-3-2) made 29 saves for the Blackhawks, who fell to 5-7-3 on the road.
Nashville stormed the Chicago zone right away, putting five shots on Darling in the first 100 seconds and another five on him before five minutes elapsed. Its 11th, a forehander by Neal, eluded Darling along the ice at 6:54 of the first period to open scoring.
The Predators added to their lead with two more goals in a 37-second span late in the period. Right winger Craig Smith swatted a forehander just over the goal line at 15:56 for his sixth goal, his first since Nov. 25.
Left winger Filip Forsberg made it 3-0 with a power-play marker at 16:33 from the doorstep, his sixth of the season. It occurred only 25 seconds after Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger was whistled for hooking.
NOTES: Chicago D Trevor Daley (concussion) missed his second consecutive game. Daley was injured Sunday night in the Blackhawks' 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. ... Nashville C Mike Fisher (lower-body injury) sat out his fifth consecutive game. He hasn't played since a 5-2 win Dec. 1 over the Arizona Coyotes. ... The Blackhawks' scratches were LW Brandon Mashinter and RW Marko Dano. ... The Predators scratched D Anthony Bitetto and LW Colin Wilson (lower-body injury).