Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Joel Ward scored with just 27 seconds left in the game to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.
Steve Sullivan and Colin Wilson each had a goal for the Predators, who have won both of their games on the young season. Anders Lindback stopped 23 shots for his first win in his first NHL start.
Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist and Patrick Kane scored the other goal for the Blackhawks, who have dropped three of four to start the season, including both games at home. Corey Crawford stopped 24 shots in the loss.
“Each gave that we’ve lost there’s been that one bad goal we’ve let in that has cost us the game,” said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville.
With the score tied, Nick Boynton was called for delay of game with 2:13 to play after he flipped the puck over the glass for the delay of game call.
Nashville took the lead in the final moments of the advantage as J.P. Dumont sent the puck from the right to the left for Ward’s tap in to the open net, and the team skated out with the win.
“There was a broken play and then there was a pass that came down to J.P. down low,” Ward said. “I just wanted to get open on the back side and sure enough I had an empty net.”
The Blackhawks got on the board just 4:48 in on Kane’s heavy wrister from the right circle, but Nashville answered less than two minutes later as a mad scramble in front saw the puck come to the slot where Sullivan grabbed it and wristed it home from the right circle.
Chicago took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission with 3:02 left in the frame. Marian Hossa skated the puck to the high slot and let loose a backhand pass to the right circle. From there, Tomas Kopecky immediately sent it over to the left side where Toews had the easy slam for his first goal of the season.
The second period went scoreless as Lindback stopped all 11 shots he faced while Crawford turned aside seven.
The Preds tied the game 4:43 into the third with a goal on the rush as Kevin Klein sent the disc from the left wing to the slot where Wilson wristed it off a Hawk and in.
Chicago plays in Columbus on Friday…Nashville hosts St. Louis on Thursday…The Blackhawks took four of six from Nashville last season…Nashville went 1-for-3 on the power play while Chicago was 1-for-1.