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Blackhawks get late equalizer in SO win over Preds

Dec 30, 2014 - 5:37 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - After coming back from a three-goal deficit, the Chicago Blackhawks needed another tying goal with less than two minutes left in regulation in their 5-4 shootout win over the Nashville Predators.

Brad Richards, Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa all scored for Chicago in a span of seven minutes to erase Nashville's 3-0 lead. Trailing 4-3 with the goaltender pulled, Bryan Bickell tied the game to send it to overtime.

Jonathan Toews scored the lone goal of the shootout and Corey Crawford stopped all three Nashville attempts to help the Blackhawks win for the third time in their last four games.

Crawford turned aside 36-of-40 shots in regulation and overtime.

James Neal scored a pair of goals for Nashville, which had won four of its previous five games. Roman Josi and Craig Smith potted the other two Predators goals and Pekka Rinne allowed four goals on 42 shots.

Down 3-0, Richards set up on the faceoff dot to Rinne's right. Kris Versteeg hit him with a pass from below the goal line and Richards fired a one-timer into the back of the net to begin the comeback.

"I thought we had a great start, and I thought we played strong throughout," said Neal. "We ran into a little penalty trouble, and they've got a great power play."

Just five minutes later, Shaw kept the Chicago cycle alive despite losing his stick earlier in the shift. He recovered the stick and his hard work paid off when he was able to tuck the rebound of Patrick Sharp's shot past Rinne to get Chicago within one.

Mattias Ekholm's holding penalty with two players already in the box gave the Blackhawks a 4-on-3 power play. Hossa was able to create a clear shooting lane and fired a one-timer to tie the game less than two minutes after Shaw's goal.

With less than a minute remaining in the second period, the Predators found an answer for Chicago's momentum. Just seven seconds into a power play, Neal was in the right place at the right time to hammer home a big rebound off a Mike Fisher shot.

Still trailing 4-3 with less than 1 1/2 minutes remaining in regulation, the Blackhawks pulled Crawford in favor of the extra attacker. Rinne had trouble handling a David Rundblad shot, and Bickell pounced on the rebound and put it past Rinne for the equalizer.

"We've been in a lot of situations over the years where we know that we're never out of it," said Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith.

Colin Wilson had one of the best chances in overtime as his wrist shot in transition went off Crawford's mask.

After Crawford stopped Ryan Ellis' backhand attempt, Toews wristed the puck by Rinne to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 edge in the shootout. Rinne would make a save on Patrick Kane's shot, but Crawford's stops of Smith and Filip Forsberg won the game.

Josi put the Predators on top after a Chicago power play expired. He jumped into the rush while the Blackhawks defense was caught puck watching. After receiving a pass from Paul Gaustad, he wristed the puck by Crawford.

Smith's power-play goal just over four minutes later added to the Predators lead. Mike Ribeiro passed to Wilson, who was parked next to the net. Crawford made the initial save on Wilson's shot but was unable to stop Smith on the rebound.

Nashville went up 3-0 in the second when a shot on goal caromed off Johnny Oduya into his own net. Neal was given credit for the goal.

Game Notes

Wilson has four goals and three assists in a four-game point streak ... Predators defenseman Shea Weber had his five-game assist streak come to an end ... Sharp scored his 500th NHL point in his 700th NHL game ... Ribeiro played in his 900th NHL game.