Joel Ward scores late goal to lift Nashville Predators over Chicago Blackhawks
Defending a Stanley Cup title is never easy for any team in the National Hockey League. Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who lost most of the players who were instrumental in the run to
the most coveted prize in the world of professional hockey.
The Nashville Predators continued the Blackhawks’ post-Stanley Cup woes as they defeated the Hawks by a score of 3-2 in front of 20,680 fans at United Centre in Chicago.
The home team started the scoring off early with right-winger Patrick firing a wrist shot past Predators goalie Anders Lindback at 4:48 into the first period. Nashville tied the game at
one goal apiece when Steve Sullivan scored at 6:37. Jonathan Toews’ first goal of the season at 16:58 allowed the Blackhawks to take a 2-1 lead into the second period.
No goals were scored by either team in the second period, but Colin Wilson put an end to that in the third period. His quick snap shot found its way behind Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford
at 4:43 of the third, with Kevin Klein and Marcel Goc picking up the assists. With only 27 seconds remaining in the game, Joel Ward took a cross-ice pass from line-mate J.P. Dumont and fired a wrist shot past Crawford to score what became the game-winning
goal for the Preds.
The Blackhawks have begun their season with a 1-2-1 record, and each of the games they’ve played thus far have been or lost by one goal. Head coach Joel Quenneville, who was signed to
a contract extension during the off-season, was disappointed with his team’s loss to the Predators.
“It was a pretty disappointing loss, not coming out of it with at least one (point),” Quenneville said post-game. “We should have had something in every game we’ve played this year, but
tonight was the toughest one.”
Nashville, however, is off to a 2-0 start this season, and has been playing very well thus far. Ward was happy to have capitalized on a scoring opportunity that ended up as the game-winner
for the Preds.
“It was a broken play,” he said. “There was a pass that came to J.P. down low. I just knew I had to get to open ice.”
Lindback shone in his first career NHL starting assignment, and by his own admission, he was very comfortable during the game.
“I felt comfortable when I came out, and felt more comfortable as the game went on,” said Lindback, who at 6ft 6in is an imposing presence in the Predators’ net.
“The boys did a real good job in front of me.”
The Swede turned aside 23 of 25 Chicago shots, while Blackhawks counterpart Crawford stopped 24 of Nashville’s 27 shots.
The Predators’ next game will be against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, 14 October, while the Blackhawks will do battle with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, 15 October.
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