Predators overturn deficit, push past Blackhawks

Brady Skjei scored the go-ahead goal at 13:07 of the third period and the visiting Nashville Predators rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Friday night.

Skjei took a return pass from Tommy Novak at the point and scored a power-play goal on a wrist shot through traffic from the top of the left circle.

Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who have won two straight after opening with five losses. Filip Forsberg also scored, Alexandre Carrier had two assists, and Juuse Saros made 27 saves for the victory.

Craig Smith and Connor Bedard scored for the Blackhawks, who have lost three straight, all at home. Petr Mrazek stopped 31 shots.

Nashville went 1-for-5 on the power play. Chicago was 0-for-5.

Smith gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 2:55 of the first period. Lukas Reichel entered the zone two-on-one with Smith and held the puck until he was deep in the attacking end before sliding it across the slot for the tip-in by Smith.

Bedard made it 2-0 at 5:14 of the second period when he redirected a centering pass from Alex Vlasic past Saros from the slot.

Teuvo Teravainen appeared to increase the lead to 3-0 with a power-play goal off the rush at 12:15 of the second. Nashville challenged the goal, and after a video review, the play was ruled offside.

That call shifted the momentum, and Nashville soon tied the score.

Forsberg pulled the Predators within 2-1 at 13:41 of the middle period. Nyquist entered the zone and made a short pass to the charging Forsberg, who split two defensemen and beat Mrazek.

Nyquist tied the score 2-2 with a short-handed goal at 16:59 of the second. Following a save by Saros, Nyquist entered the offensive zone two-on-one with Jeremy Lauzon, kept the puck and scored on a wrist shot from the right circle.

–Field Level Media