Predators stifle Blackhawks, again

In Nashville on Wednesday night, the Predators matched up with the Chicago Blackhawks and rode a skills competition goal from Matt Duchene to a 2-11 win.

The victory helped the Preds sweep the two-game set in Music City.

“I just see commitment,” Duchene said. “I see guys that have taken a step in their commitment to playing both ways and blocking shots. I think it’s pretty easy to commit to that with our group because I think there’s an accountability in our room. I think our leadership and our togetherness is even better this year than it was last year, and I feel guys are playing for each other. I think that’s so important. I know when I go out on the ice, the last thing I want to do is let my teammates down. You want to play for them and perform for them, and it doesn’t matter what it is.”

Juuse Saros made 29 saves to get the win.

The Preds improved to 4-3-0 with the win.

Nick Cousins scored early in the third period for a 1-0 lead to Nashville.

“It felt good,” Cousins said. “I think throughout the game, the first two periods were real tight. They were obviously competing a lot harder. They were playing a little bit more in the offensive zone than they did [Tuesday]. Credit to them, they played a good game.”

Ryan Carpenter knotted the game up in the 10th minute of the third to send the game on to extra time and the skills competition.”Much, much better effort tonight,” Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton said. “I thought it was a hard-fought game, not a lot going on offensively both ways for the first two periods, but I liked that we were tight. The third period opened up a little bit. Obviously they got the goal there. We had them in a really good spot in transition and then we turned the puck over, they go the other way. But I thought we responded well. Big goal there for [Carpenter].”

Chicago dropped to 2-3-3.

Kevin Lankinen made 41 saves in the loss.

“As a team, we played better tonight,” Lankinen said. “It was too bad we couldn’t get the win. We had good chances in the overtime. Maybe another night we get a bounce and it goes in. But for me, I felt confident. I felt good out there.”