• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ellis, Predators scrape past Blackhawks

Mar 22, 2008 - 11:24 PM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- With his team in desperate need of two points, Dan Ellis picked the perfect time to break out of his personal slump.

Ellis stopped 37 shots and Alexander Radulov scored the decisive goal in the shootout to lead the Predators to a 2-1 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Rich Peverley also scored in the bonus format and captain Jason Arnott netted his 27th of the season in regulation for the Predators (37-31-8), who pulled within two points of the Colorado Avalanche (39-31-6) in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Colorado dropped a 7-5 decision to Edmonton on Saturday.

Nashville snapped a four-game losing streak to the Blackhawks and earned its first shootout win in the last four chances.

Ellis had been pulled from each of his previous two starts after allowing a combined five goals on 21 shots. The 27-year-old netminder came up big against the Blackhawks, however, dominating the final two periods and overtime before stopping Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp in the shootout to clinch the win.

Due to the poor play of Ellis and fellow netminder Chris Mason, the Predators recalled Pekka Rinne from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. Predators coach Barry Trotz told both Ellis and Mason that Rinne would start Saturday's game.

"I told both goaltenders that we were bringing Pekka Rinne in to play today," Trotz said.

The only thing that stood in the way of Rinne's start was a flight delay brought on by poor weather in the Midwest. Rinne did arrive in Nashville about an hour prior to the opening faceoff, but by that point, Trotz decided to give Ellis another chance.

"It's motivating, it's disheartening, it's frustrating, it's all of the above," Ellis said of Rinne's recall. "The most important thing for our team right now is winning, not who is in the net."

"There is no question that our goaltending was really good tonight," Trotz said. "It was a little bit trying of a circumstance, and I give Danny all of the credit for responding."

After rookie Patrick Kane gave Chicago the edge on the first attempt of the shootout, Peverley answered on Nashville's initial opportunity.

"It's a move that I have used before, so I just tried to stick with what has worked in the past," Peverley said. "Anytime you can help the team, especially in this playoff run, it is just a great feeling."

Ellis stopped Toews' wrist shot before Radulov put a wrister past goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, giving the Predators a 2-1 advantage.

Radulov's goal was his first in shootouts this season, as he had been denied on his previous seven attempts.

"I was surprised they called my name because I was 0-for-7 and didn't have any confidence," Radulov said. "I just tried to go and see what he gave me, and it worked."

"Sooner or later, he was going to get one in," Trotz said. "We are going to need his hands and ability down the stretch here."

Ellis sealed the win by blocking Sharp's wrister.

"I saw what he was trying to do, and I was able to jam him before he could get it inside the post," Ellis said.

Arnott scored the game's first goal at 5:24 of the opening period.

Khabibulin stopped a point-blank one-timer by defenseman Shea Weber, but the rebound came to Arnott low in the the left faceoff circle, and he hammered the puck past the goaltender for a 1-0 lead.

Andrew Ladd tied the game 1-1 with 5:18 left in the first.

From behind the net, Dave Bolland found Ladd unchecked in the low slot for an easy tap-in past Ellis for his 13th goal of the season.

Ellis made a key save near the end of the third, stopping Bolland on a breakaway with 1:45 remaining. Bolland drove toward the net unchecked, but Ellis was able to get in front of a wrist shot, knocking it away with his shoulder.

Ellis built on that momentum early in the extra session, making a number of key saves, including a glove stop on a wrister by Ladd.

"I didn't realize what shooter it was, I just saw he was a left shot," Ellis said. "He came in and made a quick release, and I was able to get a glove on it."

"I obviously wish I could have buried that one, but I didn't get it up enough," Ladd said. "It's tough, because it cost us another point, and it's a tight race right now."

Nashville was unable to convert on its lone third-period power play despite back-to-back shots from Arnott and Weber.

The Predators came up empty on their four power plays in the game, while the Blackhawks did not receive an opportunity with the man advantage.

Khabibulin finished with 33 saves for Chicago (35-32-8), which earned a point to pull within six of Colorado.

"We played a heck of a game," Chicago coach Denis Savard said. "When you get 38 shots with no power plays, you've done something pretty good."