Stalock helps Blackhawks end Predators winning streak at 3

NASHVILLE --The Nashville Predators had their three-game winning streak end with a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

"We've got a really young group, and it seemed tonight like we didn't have the energy, the normal energy and competitiveness that we've been playing with, and execution," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "We've had much more energy and spark to our game. Tonight, guys were working, but we just didn't have it, and some of that comes down to the execution on the chances."
Roman Josi scored, and Juuse Saros made 19 saves for the Predators (34-25-7), who are four points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Nashville has played three fewer games. The teams meet here Saturday.
"Obviously it's a disappointing loss," said Josi, the Predators captain. "Every point is huge right now. But we have a massive game coming up Saturday. It's a quick turnaround. We've got to look at this [game] tonight, but after that, we've got to forget about it and look forward to Saturday."

Alex Stalock made 35 saves, including one on a penalty shot, and Lukas Reichel and Joey Anderson scored for the Blackhawks (24-38-6), who won their second straight.
It was Chicago's first win in its past six games against Nashville and its first regulation win against the Predators in the past 17 games between the teams since a 7-2 victory Nov. 16, 2019.
"I thought it was a good team performance again," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. "[Stalock] was real solid in the net. They enjoy him because they know he battles, so they really battle for him. It was a fun night for him."
Reichel gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead with 47 seconds remaining in the first period, scoring on a 2-on-1. His attempted pass to Andreas Athanasiou was deflected by Saros' stick, but the puck was knocked in by sliding Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro.
"The goal was a little lucky," Reichel said. "It could be a nicer goal, but it doesn't matter how."

Hynes said, "It was a mistake on the offensive blue line [by Fabbro], but he's trying like heck to get back. It's not like he quit on the play. He dives. He's trying everything he can to keep the puck out of the net."
Nashville was awarded a penalty shot at 13:40 of the second period when Stalock was called for throwing his stick at Predators forward Rasmus Asplund. Matt Duchene took the penalty shot but lost control of the puck as he neared Stalock.
"I stayed with him," Stalock said. "He ended up fumbling it, which was a big bonus for me."
Anderson made it 2-0 at 8:01 of the third period after Chicago forced a turnover on the forecheck behind the net. Boris Katchouk sent a pass across the top of the crease to Anderson, who scored into a nearly empty net from the left post.
"We played good," Reichel said. "Over 60 minutes, we played a solid game, good defensively. They are a good team. They got their chances. [Stalock] was unbelievable today again and helped us a lot.

Josi cut it to 2-1 with 25 seconds left on a slap shot from just inside the blue line.
NOTES: Richardson said defenseman Wyatt Kaiser will make his NHL debut during the current five-game road trip, which has four games left and continues at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. Kaiser, selected by Chicago in the third round (No. 81) of the 2020 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract Tuesday. … The Blackhawks announced that forward Cole Guttman had successful right shoulder stabilization surgery and will be out of hockey activities for approximately four months. ... Nashville forward Tommy Novak had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (six points; four goals, two assists) … Predators forward Michael McCarron had four hits in 8:36 of ice time after being recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He replaced forward Egor Afanasyev, who was reassigned to Milwaukee.