Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Antti Niemi stopped all 23 shots he faced to make his first playoff win a shutout, as the Chicago Blackhawks rebounded to beat Nashville, 2-0, and even up their Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Predators.
Blackhawks Look To Rebound Against Predators In Game 2
Patrick Kane and Dave Bolland scored for the Central Division champions.
For the first time in NHL history, all eight series started 1-1.
Pekka Rinne made 31 saves for Nashville, which scored four third-period goals on Friday to steal Game 1, 4-1. It marked the franchise's first road playoff win in 11 tries and the first time the Predators won a postseason game when trailing after two periods.
This best-of-seven series shifts to the Music City for Game 3 on Tuesday.
The game remained scoreless after the first period, despite a 13-5 shot advantage for the home team.
Chicago broke through on the power play in the second. Bolland took a feed from Jonathan Toews and lifted a backhander over a prone Rinne at 8:44.
Kane's second tally in as many games provided some insurance. Kane was joined by Patrick Sharp, creating a 2-on-1. Kane pushed the puck down the right wing and drifted into the faceoff circle before firing a wrister that beat Rinne on the stick side at 4:18 of the third.
The Predators had a chance to get on the board with a late power play. Rinne was pulled to make it a 6-on-4 advantage, but Niemi stood tall between the pipes.
Kane also had an assist...Chicago right winger Marian Hossa played in his 100th playoff game...The Blackhawks signed forward Ben Smith to a two-year entry-level contract on Sunday. Smith recently helped Boston College win the NCAA championship and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
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