Looking to bounce back from a dreadful 5–2 home loss to the Calgary Flames, the Chicago Blackhawks hit the road to face the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. The Hawks had additional motivation for snapping a three-game slide with the traditional “Dad’s and Mentors” trip visiting Music City, and family members and close friends in attendance. The Hawks started Arvid Soderblom between the pipes against Nashville’s Juuse Saros.
First period
With the Preds on the power play, Hawks killer Steven Stamkos scored his 18th career goal against Chicago to give Nashville a 1–0 lead. Stamkos received the puck near the half boards and to the right of Soderblom and he fired a shot that went in for his 15th of the season at 8:07.
Nick Foligno thought he had tied the game, however the officials immediately waved it off for goaltender interference. The Hawks’ challenge was unsuccessful and were shorthanded for the third time in the period. The good news is the Hawks killed it off and kept it a 1–0 game after 20 minutes.
Second period
The Hawks tied the game at 1–1 on Connor Bedard’s 13th of the season. Tyler Bertuzzi picked off a Preds’ clearing attempt and patiently found a wide-open Bedard in the slot, and he snapped a low shot past Saros at the 6:30 mark.
Music City Bedsy🎶 pic.twitter.com/5UJ3omOi4W
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 17, 2025
The Blackhawks took a 2–1 lead 87 seconds later when Alec Martinez scored his second of the season. Martinez fired a shot from the point that missed the net but caromed off the boards, off the side of the net and off the back of Saros’ pads and into the net at 7:57.
for the 2-1 lead🕺 pic.twitter.com/T4Jrz7YiHq
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 17, 2025
The Hawks held the lead through two.
Third period
With just over three minutes to go in regulation, the Preds tied it at 2–2. With the Hawks changing, Nick Blankenburg fired a pass from deep in his own zone to Filip Forsberg, who was just outside the blue line. Forsberg took a few strides into the zone and fired a rocket past Soderblom for his 13th of the season and 300th of his career at 16:57. The game would remain tied after regulation.
Overtime and shootout
Both teams exchanged grade-A chances but five minutes was not enough, so the game went to a shootout.
Gustav Nyqvist opened the shootout with a low shot that beat Soderblom, however Teuvo Teravainen matched him with a low shot goal of his own. Ryan O’Reilly followed with a slow approach and beat Soderblom. After Bedard was stopped, Stamkos won it with a shot over the blocker to win it for the Preds, 3–2 in a shootout.
Analysis
The Blackhawks put forth a much better effort and were rewarded with a well-earned point on the road, but the losing skid extended to four games. Soderblom made some huge saves in overtime to extend the game into the shootout, which is where he fell apart, allowing three goals on three shots. The Hawks return to the United Center on Saturday night when they host the Vegas Golden Knights. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CST on CHSN with the radio call on 720 AM WGN.