Thursday, Mar. 22 8:30pm ET
Nashville unbeaten in last four games
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
CHICAGO (AP) – The Nashville Predators are ready to play every
minute of every game as they fight to make the playoffs. They don't
even mind playing a few extra minutes.
Mark Eaton scored his third goal of the season 1:54 into
overtime as the Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1
Thursday night.
Nashville is unbeaten in four games, including a 0-0 tie against
Minnesota on Wednesday night, and is only five points behind Los
Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western
Conference.
But with only six games remaining, Predators Coach Barry Trotz
knows making the playoffs is not likely.
"Our goal is to just play right until game 82, that's where we
are at," Trotz said. "We got six left, and we just want to see
what we can do in our last six. Realistically, it's a long shot."
Eaton's goal was Nashville's only shot in overtime.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville's backup, stopped 23 of 24 shots. He is
3-1 in his last four starts. Mike Dunham and Vokoun have allowed
only seven goals in seven games.
Chris Herperger broke Vokoun's shutout bid with 6:26 remaining
in regulation. Herperger carried the puck into the offensive zone
and fired a 45-foot shot past Vokoun for his 10th goal.
"That was a bad goal, partly my fault," Vokoun said. "I
didn't see the shooter. Everything happened so fast, he shot and
the puck went in."
Vitali Yachmenev scored his 15th goal to open the scoring 13:58
in. Yachmenev skated from one side of the slot to the other, and
lifted a wrist shot past a fallen Jocelyn Thibault.
Chicago's Alex Zhamnov thought he won the game 1:16 into
overtime, but his goal was disallowed because of goalie
interference by Tony Amonte. No penalty was called.
"Tony didn't even touch the goalie," Chicago coach Alpo
Suhonen said. "And if he did touch him, it was a penalty. It was a
terrible call."
Vokoun saw it differently.
"There was no question that call was the right call," he said.
"The referees have to protect the goalies. They have to give you a
chance to stop the puck."
Zhamnov, who fractured his larynx Jan. 20 and missed Chicago's
last game because of irritation in his throat, was also awarded a
penalty shot in second period after Vokoun was charged with
throwing his stick.
With an opportunity to tie the game, Zhamnov failed to even
register a shot on goal after losing control of the puck while
trying to shoot off his backhand.
"What you try to do as a goalie, you try to go the distance
between you and the player", Vokoun said. "You try to stay as
close as possible. It's a lot tougher for him to go around you."
When asked about his inability to put a shot on net, Zhamnov
said, "Maybe I started a little bit early to make my move."
Chicago is 1-4-1 in six games, and 11 points away from a playoff
spot with only eight games remaining.
Thibault stopped 22 shots, and dropped to 27-28-6.
The Blackhawks also failed on two power plays, and rank 28th in
the NHL with the man advantage.
Game notes
Chicago mustered only two shots on goal in the first
period, Nashville had 12. ... The Predators are 22-1-3 when leading
after two periods. ... Chicago won the season series 3-2-0, and is
14-18-3-1 at home.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Nashville Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 3
Montreal 2
Detroit 4
Minnesota 2
Atlanta 2
Tampa Bay 0
Nashville 2
Chicago 1
Colorado 3
St. Louis 1
Calgary 3
Philadelphia 1
Ottawa 2
San Jose 1
|
