Apr 3, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a penalty shot during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Juuse Saros made 41 saves for this second shutout of the season and Colton Sissons scored on a penalty shot as the Nashville Predators continued their recent dominance of the visiting Chicago Blackhawks with a 3-0 victory on Saturday.
Eeli Tolvanen opened the scoring and Luke Kunin added a late goal for the Predators, who have won nine of the last 11 and improved to 5-0-0 against Chicago this season. Despite seeing a large volume of shots, Saros didn’t need to play above his head while winning for the eighth time in his last 11 starts.
Saros, who has allowed fewer than three goals in all but one of those 11 contests, did come up with a pair of key saves early in the third period when Nashville killed off Chicago’s 5-on-3 scenario.
The Blackhawks set a season high for shots and allowed just 21 but were blanked for the first time in 2020-21 while losing for the 10th time in 14 games — and their fifth straight on the road. Kevin Lankinen made 18 saves for Chicago, which is trying to remain in the mix with the likes of Nashville for the fourth playoff spot in the Central Division.
Related: NHL trade rumors – Latest buzz for 2022 trade deadline day
Despite being outshot 14-6, Nashville recorded the lone goal of the first period. On the power play, and off a perfect pass from Calle Jarnkrok, Tolvanen ripped a successful laser from the far point at 5:56 into the game for his 10th goal of the season. The Predators have outscored Chicago 4-0 in the first period of the last three meetings.
Nashville made it 2-0 when Sissons rang both posts to convert his first successful penalty shot after being hooked by Patrick Kane on a short-handed breakaway with 9:46 left in the second period. The Predators extended the lead with 10:06 left in regulation when Kunin pounced on Connor Murphy’s turnover in the slot and drilled the puck by Lankinen.
Nashville’s Viktor Arvidsson left the game with just under nine minutes to go in the second period following a collision with Chicago’s Kirby Dach.
–Field Level Media
Related: NHL power rankings – Colorado and Florida clinch, Bolts cool down