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O'Reilly's SO tally the difference as Preds nip 'Hawks

Nov 14, 2010 - 6:30 AM Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Cal O'Reilly scored the lone goal of the shootout, as the Nashville Predators took down the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, at Bridgestone Arena.

Shea Weber, Shane O'Brien, and Cody Franson scored in regulation for the Predators, who have won two in a row since a five-game skid. Pekka Rinne made 30 saves.

"It's very hard in this league when you're down. We haven't had the lead a whole lot," Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said. "I think we're better with the lead because we check fairly well. When you're chasing the game, trying to get it tied up, it's pretty taxing on your team mentally, but you talk about defining a backbone and finding ways to win - that's what those moments are."

Jack Skille had two goals for the Blackhawks, who have lost three straight and five of six overall. Marty Turco turned aside 30-of-33 shots in the setback.

O'Reilly's wrister past Turco gave Nashville a one-goal edge after one round, then Chicago's Patrick Kane was stopped on a backhander and Steve Sullivan failed for the Predators. Patrick Sharp didn't even get the final chance on net, missing wide to end the contest.

Skille's wrister from the slot with 53 seconds left in the first period gave Chicago a 1-0 lead.

O'Brien lit the lamp at the 2:37 mark of the second to make it a 1-1 game before Weber's slapper on the power play less than three minutes later gave Nashville a 2-1 margin.

The Blackhawks scored twice before the end of the stanza to take the lead back. Viktor Stalberg's snap shot from the left circle made it 2-2 at the 6:51 mark.

At the 9:10 mark, Skille took a cross-ice pass from Jake Dowell and fired a shot past Rinne for a 3-2 edge.

Franson deadlocked the tilt at the 10:23 mark of the third when his blistering shot from the right point got past Turco for a 3-3 game.

Turco made five saves and Rinne made two in a scoreless overtime.

Game Notes

The Predators recorded a 3-2 win in Chicago to kick off the season series back on October 13. The Blackhawks still have six wins in the last 10 meetings between the clubs and Chicago has taken three of the last five encounters in the Music City....Blackhawks center Dave Bolland returned to the lineup after missing the last six games with a rib injury.