When this game started, the Nashville Predators were 8-2-1 in their last 11 games and winners of their last three, making them a suddenly interesting team closing in on the playoff race in the Western Conference (and the Central Division). The Blackhawks were coming off an improbably beat-down of the Boston Bruins, but certainly had “less to play for” than the Preds.
But, as has been the case all year, this Blackhawks roster could not care less about the pre-game narrative.
Star 1: Alex Stalock
His shutout bid ended with 23.6 seconds left in regulation and the net empty behind the Preds, but he was marvelous all night again. He stopped the first 34 shots he faced in the game while the skaters in front of him put 7, 9 and 5 shots on net in the three periods, respectively.
Star 2: Dante Fabbro
Fabbro scored the first goal of the night for the Blackhawks. Wait… I’m now hearing he actually plays for the Predators? And Lukas Reichel was credited with the goal? Sure, why not. Thanks, Dante. We needed one.
Star 3: Joey Anderson
Anderson scored Chicago’s second goal of the night off a pretty set-up by Boris Katchouk. I keep saying there’s something to his game that I like and it’s started to pay off in the box score. He now has three goals with the Blackhawks and points in four of his last five games. For as much as we loved Sam Lafferty, it’s entirely possible the Blackhawks can find a good, young player who is willing to play that role and can replicate his performance here and it looks like Anderson wants it right now. Oh, and by the way, Lafferty has all of one assist to show for his first seven games in Toronto…
Takeaways
- The Blackhawks’ line of Katchouk – Jujhar Khaira – Anderson was a really solid energy line again tonight. They were easily the most effective line of Chicago forwards according to Natural Stat Trick and got the payoff with the Blackhawks’ second goal of the night.
- Katchouk now has five points in his last four games.
- Reichel showed a really nice ability to execute a stretch pass a few times, springing Andreas Athanasiou in the third period for a chance.
- Luke Richardson sent his fourth line out with the empty net late in the game because they’ve been so good recently — especially tonight.
- Nikita Zaitsev does nothing for me.