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Preds Down Blackhawks

Pekka Rinne became the 12th goaltender in NHL history to score when he converted an empty-netter with 22 seconds left, punctuating the Predators' 5-2 victory over the sloppy Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.

 

Nashville had a 4-2 lead when Rinne fired the puck into the air from behind his own net. It landed inside Chicago's blue line and slid into the goal before Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach could chase it down.

 

Matt Duchene and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for Nashville (20-16-7), which had dropped five of six. Nick Bonino also had an empty-net goal before Rinne got his 14th career point.

 

Dominik Kubalik scored for the third straight game, but Chicago (19-20-6) dropped to 1-2 on its four-game homestand. Alex DeBrincat added a power-play goal in the third period, and Corey Crawford finished with 25 saves.

 

After DeBrincat's slick backhand trimmed Nashville's lead to 3-2, the Blackhawks pushed hard for the tying goal. But Rinne helped the Predators kill off a power play before Bonino put it away with his 14th goal.

 

Nashville skated circles around Chicago at the start of the game, and the Blackhawks made several mistakes that led to quality opportunities for the Predators.

 

Blackhawks C Dylan Strome was scratched after he hurt his right ankle during Tuesday night's 2-1 loss to Calgary. He is day to day.

 

Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.

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