Blackhawks defeat Predators for 12th straight win

NASHVILLE -- Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, and Corey Crawford made 38 saves to help the Chicago Blackhawks to a 12th straight win, the longest streak in their history, with a 4-1 victory against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
Artem Anisimov, Richard Panik and Andrew Desjardins scored for the Blackhawks (32-13-4), who have not lost since Dec. 27, when the Carolina Hurricanes defeated them 2-1.

"It's a great run," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "We've been starting quick, and today we had to weather a good start by them. I thought we were patient with our team game and scoring first, a couple nice plays on the goals. We defended well in the third. We've had the lead a lot in this stretch here, which really helped our team."
Chicago won 11 games in a row during the 2012-13 season.
Anisimov gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead with 21.2 seconds remaining in the first period. After Chicago created a turnover in the offensive zone, Anisimov took a pass from Artemi Panarin and scored on the backhand past Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne for his 16th goal.
Panik made it 2-0 at 2:43 of the second period on a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle. He took a pass from forward Dennis Rasmussen and beat Rinne on the far side for his second goal of the season and second in two games.
"We're getting contributions from everybody, all throughout the lineup," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "A huge goal by Panik tonight. [Crawford] again was great; our goaltenders ... [Scott Darling] has been great. Like I said, we're getting contributions from everybody, all four lines, all six [defensemen]. It's one game at a time. I think we're trying to be smart and playing a good team game."
Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis scored 25 seconds later to make it 2-1 on a slap shot from the point. He took a pass from forward Miikka Salomaki and shot it through traffic past Crawford for his sixth goal.
Kane gave the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead at 4:08 of the second period on a breakaway. He took a stretch pass from Panarin and beat Rinne on a forehand-to-backhand move for his 30th of the season, tying his career high for goals in a season (2009-10 in 82 games).
"It's been good, nice to reach that number," Kane said. "I think I was close the past couple years and got hurt, so it was nice to reach that, but more importantly I think getting the franchise record of wins in a row, it's pretty special and something that we can all be proud about. It's fun to win 12 in a row. I think it's fun when you're winning games, and you want to keep building on it."
Desjardins scored an empty-net goal with 37 seconds left.
The Predators (20-18-8) have lost six of seven.
"Defensively, we didn't allow a lot," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "There weren't a lot of quality chances. There weren't a lot of shots, but the ones that we let up, there's three or four or five of them that I'd like back because they're too big. The chances were too big. We've got to know where their players are when we're in the offensive zone. We already knew that they were going to take off and jump like that."
Crawford has won an NHL career-high nine straight games.
"I think we're just playing the game right," said Crawford, whose 27 victories are second in the NHL to the Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby (30). "We're playing with speed and skill. We're not making too many mistakes. We're not taking too many penalties. I think everything about our game is working right now, and you can really see the chemistry throughout all the lines, throughout all of the [defense] pairings. I thought our [defense] were really solid again tonight. I don't remember too many shots right from the slot. We're really taking that away, clearing rebounds."
Kane said Crawford has been a key to the Blackhawks' 12-game win streak.
"He's been amazing," Kane said. "He just seems like he's got a whole new focus in the net, and some nights he looks unbeatable. It's pretty fun to watch. I think he's very underrated as far as goalies go around the League, but we feel we have the best kept secret with him."
Rinne has allowed three goals or more in eight of his past nine starts and is 1-5-1 in his past seven games.
Chicago will play at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, when Nashville will visit the Winnipeg Jets.