Blackhawks 4, Predators 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Right winger Patrick Kane continued his Hart Trophy-caliber season as the Chicago Blackhawks set a franchise record Tuesday night.
Fueled by Kane's goal and assist, Chicago notched their 12th straight win with a 4-1 decision over the Nashville Predators in Bridgestone Arena.
Goalie Corey Crawford bagged 38 saves for the Blackhawks (32-13-4), who won 11 in a row from Feb. 15-March 6, 2013. In beating Nashville for the third time this season, Crawford came up with 16 stops in a busy third period.
Goalie Pekka Rinne managed 21 saves, but dropped his fifth straight start for the Predators (20-18-8), which fell to 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and start a tough four-game road trip through Western Canada on Thursday night in Winnipeg.
Kane, who leads the NHL in scoring with 30 goals and 71 points, enjoyed his 20th multi-point outing of the season. He has been kept off the scoresheet only six times in 49 games.
Left winger Artemi Panarin drew two assists for Chicago, while left winger Andrew Desjardins capped the scoring with an empty-net marker at 19:23 of the third period.
Chicago initiated scoring at 19:38 of the first period when center Artem Anisimov pounced on a Nashville turnover and scored his 16th goal on a backhander from the slot.
The Blackhawks made it 2-0 at 2:43 of the second period when rookie left winger Richard Panik, playing in just his fifth game, tallied on a wrister from the top of the right faceoff circle. It was his second goal in as many games.
Defenseman Ryan Ellis got the Predators on the board 25 seconds later with a slapper from the point, but Kane countered at 4:08 on a breakaway.
NOTES: Starting with Tuesday night's game, Chicago plays seven of its next eight games on the road. ... Nashville LW Colin Wilson and LW Gabriel Bourque remain on the shelf with lower-body and upper-body injuries, respectively. ... The Blackhawks scratched LW Brandon Mashinter, D Rob Scuderi and C Marcus Kruger. ... Predators scratches were D Petter Granberg and LW Austin Watson.