Predators defeat Blackhawks in shootout, sweep two-game set

NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks for the second straight day, 2-1 in the shootout at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

Nick Cousins scored, Juuse Saros made 29 saves, and Matt Duchene scored the only goal in the shootout for the Predators (4-3-0), who swept the back-to-back set. Nashville won 3-2 in overtime here Tuesday.
"I just see commitment," Duchene said. "I see guys that have taken a step in their commitment to playing both ways and blocking shots. I think it's pretty easy to commit to that with our group because I think there's an accountability in our room. I think our leadership and our togetherness is even better this year than it was last year, and I feel guys are playing for each other. I think that's so important. I know when I go out on the ice, the last thing I want to do is let my teammates down. You want to play for them and perform for them, and it doesn't matter what it is."
Ryan Carpenter scored, and Kevin Lankinen made an NHL career-high 41 saves for the Blackhawks (2-3-3), who extended their point streak to five games (2-0-3).
"As a team, we played better tonight," Lankinen said after his fourth NHL game. "It was too bad we couldn't get the win. We had good chances in the overtime. Maybe another night we get a bounce and it goes in. But for me, I felt confident. I felt good out there."

With the game tied 0-0, Lankinen made the save on three shots from in close -- against Luke Kunin, Duchene, then Kunin again -- in a two-second span at 4:47 of the second period.
Cousins gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 5:24 of the third period with a wrist shot on the rush for his first goal with Nashville. He took a pass from Duchene and scored from the right face-off circle following a Chicago turnover in the neutral zone.
"It felt good," Cousins said. "I think throughout the game, the first two periods were real tight. They were obviously competing a lot harder. They were playing a little bit more in the offensive zone than they did [Tuesday]. Credit to them, they played a good game."

Carpenter tied it 1-1 at 9:24 when he scored on his rebound after redirecting a pass from Brandon Hagel, who got an assist for his first NHL point in his sixth game.
"Much, much better effort tonight," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. "I thought it was a hard-fought game, not a lot going on offensively both ways for the first two periods, but I liked that we were tight. The third period opened up a little bit. Obviously they got the goal there. We had them in a really good spot in transition and then we turned the puck over, they go the other way. But I thought we responded well. Big goal there for [Carpenter]."
NOTES: Predators defenseman Jarred Tinordi had four shots and was plus-1 in 13:42 of ice time in his season debut. … Duchene played his 800th NHL game. … Each team was 0-for-4 on the power play. Nashville was 0-for-8 in the two-game set. Chicago had scored a power-play goal in seven straight games. … The Blackhawks played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. ... Cousins signed with Nashville as a free agent this offseason.