Predators 4 - 5 Blackhawks
Final - OT
  for this game

Chicago edges Nashville in OT for seventh straight win

Apr 20, 2013 - 4:56 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Marian Hossa scored the winner on the power play 52 seconds into overtime as Chicago continues its quest for the best record in the NHL with a 5-4 win over Nashville on Friday.

With 72 points, Chicago has already clinched the top spot in the Western Conference and holds a six-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for first overall in the NHL standings. Both teams have five games remaining as Pittsburgh's game against Boston on Friday night was postponed due to the manhunt in Boston for the last remaining marathon bomber.

Chicago's only other Presidents' Trophy came in the 1990-91 season.

Duncan Keith posted a goal and two assists while Patrick Kane added a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who have won seven straight. Corey Crawford made 23 saves in the win.

Matt Halischuk had two goals and an assist and Bobby Butler gave a goal and a helper for the Predators, who have dropped eight straight. Pekka Rinne gave up all five goals on 30 shots in the loss.

"Everybody's pushing to try to get a win," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz. "It's one thing or another. All their goals came off turnovers."

Skating 4-on-3 in the extra session as Rich Clune was handed a double minor for high sticking with 45 seconds to go in regulation, Kane fired a pass from the left circle over to the right where Hossa one-timed it home for the victory.

"We had a good practice with the power play and I had a good feeling about it coming into the game," said Hossa. "That will be big once the playoffs come because the power play wins you games in the playoffs."

The win gave Chicago a sweep of the season series with Nashville, winning three of the games in regulation, one in overtime and another in a shootout.

The Hawks got on the board just 4:48 in on the power play on Keith's one-timer from the slot, but Halischuk netted his first goal of the game just under two minutes later when he tipped in a Kevin Klein shot.

Kevin Henderson netted his first career goal at the 10:42 mark of the first when he jammed the puck in with several players in front to give the Preds a 2-1 lead, but Brandon Saad scored his 10th of the year just under three minutes later to tie the game.

In the second, Chicago made it 3-2 when Kane finished off a rush with a forehander between the pads of Rinne at 9:20, but Halischuk's second of the game came three minutes later when he put in his own rebound on a breakaway for his fourth of the year.

Michal Handzus gave Chicago a 4-3 advantage halfway through the third after he picked off a clear at the right boards and beat Rinne with a wrister from the right circle, but Butler tied the game with 3:34 to play off a quick shot from the slot off a rebound.

Game Notes

Chicago hosts Phoenix on Saturday ... Nashville hosts Calgary on Tuesday for its final home game of the season ... Chicago was 2-for-3 on the power play while Nashville went 0-for-3.






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