Crawford Shines, Kane Extends Streak, Hawks Win, 4-1

All eyes were once again on Patrick Kane tonight and not so much the divisional showdown when the Chicago Blackhawks took on the Nashville Predators.  It was Corey Crawford who shined tonight as he stopped 36 shots.  Oh...and Kane continued his streak with an empty net goal, as the Hawks took down the Preds, 4-1.

The first period was an end to end, free-flying period.  The Predators had numerous chances and Corey Crawford repeatedly slammed the door.  He made 12 saves in the period.  Pekka Rinne had some great saves too, but he couldn't stop a redirected shot from Dennis Rasmussen on an Andrew Shaw shot attempt.  Rasmussen scored in his first NHL game, on his first NHL shot.  The Hawks were outshot, 12-9 in the period, but ended the period with the 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Predators went to the power play early, but the Hawks put in a strong penalty kill.  They built off that momentum and eventually earned a power play thanks to Barret Jackman being an idiot, as always, as he elbowed Patrick Kane.  On that power play, Shaw took a cross-ice pass from Teuvo Teravainen and one-timed a bouncing puck past Rinne, stick-side, to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.  Late goals have been a problem for the Hawks this year and it came back to bite them again.  Roman Josi rushed in over the Hawks line and fed a pass to Eric Nystrom who finally found a way to get a puck past the sprawled out Crawford to bring Nashville to within 2-1 with :45 left in the period.  Through two periods, Nashville held a 26-15 shot differential and were winning 57% of the face-offs.

Teravainen started the 3rd period like he did the other night against Winnipeg.  He scored a goal within the first minute of the period to extend the Hawks lead to 3-1.  This was quite the goal-scorers goal as Teuvo from the top of the point, snapped a shot past Rinne...while not looking at the goal.  Crawford had to stand tall in the period again and did so on a Nashville power play where he stoned the Preds on 3 quality shots.  Kane would be on the ice as the Predators pulled Rinne.  Artemi Panarin fed him a pass and he flipped a shot from beyond center ice into the open net to continue his consecutive scoring streak to 23 games.  It was his 600th point of his career and would end the scoring.

Notable mentions: Kane, scored his 600th point (222G 378A) in just 604 games.  Teravainen's addition to the top line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa is starting to look like a good fit.  There has been a hole at that left wing position all year.  You can see his confidence grow the longer he plays on that line.  All 4 lines were rolling for the Hawks tonight.  All had at least one scoring chance.  It would have been a complete game if the team would have played better defense, but Crawford came away with a goalie win.

Three Stars of The Game
1st - CHI - Corey Crawford - 36 saves, .973 SV%
2nd - CHI - Andrew Shaw - (1G 1A)
3rd - CHI - Teuvo Teravainen (1G 1A)

Next game: Thursday, December 10th, Away vs. Nashville Predators, 7:00PM

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!