Predators 4 - 5 Blackhawks
Final - OT
  for this game

Rinne, Predators visit rival Blackhawks

Oct 31, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - The Predators know they are solid in goal thanks to the play of Pekka Rinne. It's staying healthy up front that has given the club problems so far.

Nashville tries to win three in a row for the first time this season, but will be without center Mike Fisher for tonight's meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fisher, the team's big in-season pickup from the Senators last year, missed the first seven games of the season due to shoulder surgery and then suffered an upper-body injury in his third game back during Saturday's 3-0 win over the Ducks. He was hit by an illegal check to the head from Anaheim's Francois Beauchemin and did not travel to Chicago.

Nashville was already playing without Sergei Kostitsyn due to a left leg injury and he is questionable for this game. He is tied for second on the club with eight points.

Rinne, though, made up for the wounded offense by making 20 saves in his franchise-record 22nd career shutout. He also won the 100th game of his career.

"He made a couple of saves in the second period that I thought were outstanding. I thought he stood tall," said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz.

Patric Hornqvist scored 14 seconds into the game and both Martin Erat and Shea Weber scored their first goals of the season for the Preds, who have won three of four since a four-game slide.

"We showed mental toughness and character toughness tonight when things got chippy," said Trotz, whose club opens a five-game road trip tonight.

Chicago had a seven-game point streak (5-0-2) end with a shutout loss in Carolina on Friday, but bounced back at home the following night with a 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

The Blackhawks failed to hold a pair of one-goal leads until Viktor Stalberg scored twice just two minutes apart in the third frame. Michael Frolik capped the three-goal frame with an empty-net tally.

"I think we played alright for the first 40 [minutes]," said Stalberg, who scored his first two goals of the season. "We gave up some goals you don't want to give up, but found ways to come back. The biggest thing was taking two points and not losing two games in a row."

Marcus Kruger scored his first career goal and Dave Bolland also lit the lamp for the Blackhawks, who were without forward Daniel Carcillo after he received a two-game suspension for an illegal check in Carolina on Friday. He will conclude his ban tonight.

Ray Emery made 27 saves in his second start of the year and first since Oct. 13.

"You've got to stay sharp. You've got to get your feet wet somehow," said Emery. "I thought they came with a lot of energy, which kind of makes it tough to get in the game when they bring a lot of speed with the puck. Guys did a good job of sorting things out, going into the third with a tie game and pulling out a big period. I'm happy the way the game went."

The Blackhawks and Predators split their six-game series last year, but Chicago has won two in a row and nine of the last 12 played in the Windy City.






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