In Nashville, the Predators were looking to break out of a slump Saturday and posted four goals in the first period to defeat the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, 5-2.
The win snapped a two-game skid at home.
Eeli Tolvanen (first NHL goal), Kevin Fiala, Craig Smith, and Ryan Johansen scored for the Preds in the opening frame. 
“We didn’t play well last game,” Predators head coach Peter Laviolette said. “So as always, we talk about things the next day. We address it. And to me, tonight is 100 percent on the players for their response, because you can talk about things and you can say things to get things moving back in the direction that you want them to move in, but that doesn’t do it. That doesn’t move the needle. And so for me, the leadership group and the players, it’s all on them. That was a much, much better game.”
Nashville improved to 18-8-1.
“We were attacking from the first second,” Fiala said. “It’s awesome to see. Everybody was ready to go.”
Pekka Rinne made 19 saves to get the win.
Brandon Saad and Artem Anisimov scored for the Blackhawks.
Chicago continues to reel this season with a record of 9-13-5.
Austin Watson added an empty-net goal late in the third to close out the scoring.
The Blackhawks are now 3-11-3 in their last 17 games.
[WATCH: All Blackhawks vs. Predators highlights]
Cam Ward made 25 saves in the loss.
“I don’t know what to tell you. It’s frustrating. We’ve got to be better. We know that. But we’ll try and keep cracking down all of the little details,” Jonathan Toews said after the loss.

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