Predators score 3 in 2nd, edge Blackhawks in shootout

CHICAGO -- The Nashville Predators scored three goals in the second period of a 4-3 shootout win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Tuesday.

Gustav Nyquist, Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg each scored in the shootout.

“I think we’ll take the two points, obviously not as sharp as we have been,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “It was a hard game to play. There’s going to be games during the season that are going to be like this. We were able to scrape and crawl and get two [points] out of it. I’m happy for the guys.”

O’Reilly, Luke Evangelista and Mark Jankowski scored for the Predators (13-12-0), who have won two straight and eight of 10. Juuse Saros made 25 saves.

“It was kind of a back-and-forth game, some rush chances both ways,” Evangelista said. “It was a little loose in the first and second period, I thought. In the third, it got really tight. You could feel the intensity in the game. Fortunately, we were able to battle that one out and get two points.”

Nick Foligno had two goals and an assist, and Jason Dickinson scored for the Blackhawks (7-16-1), who have lost four straight. Seth Jones had two assists, and Arvid Soderblom made 27 saves.

“Good spots and bad spots, right?” Foligno said. “You saw when we had success what we were doing -- we’re playing fast, we’re playing north, we were quick with our decisions and moving the puck. Teams can’t react. We know how it feels when a team does it to us.

“So, when we do it, it’s there. We just don’t sustain it enough. Or we have these little breakdowns that cost us, right? It’s frustrating because we have to clean that up.”

Foligno gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 5:57 of the first period. Jones fed the puck to Foligno, who drove in and scored off the back of Saros.

“Just tried to join the rush when I can,” Jones said. “The points have kind of been a struggle and things like that. And I still can’t put the puck in the net, which is getting quite frustrating. But just trying to do what I can. We're playing a lot [in the defensive] zone as of late, so just trying to be solid there and help out on breakouts and be clean to the neutral zone. And when I get a chance to jump, be there and be the actual attacker.”

Evangelista tied it 1-1 at 2:11 of the second period, putting in the rebound of Tyson Barrie’s shot from the high slot.

“That’s how you’re going to score in this league, getting to the net, getting a couple of rebound goals there,” Evangelista said. “You’ve got to go to the dirty areas to score in the NHL.”

Jankowski put Nashville ahead 2-1 with his first goal of the season 26 seconds later at 2:37, scoring on the rebound off a shot from Colton Sissons. Jankowski was playing his second game after being recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Sunday.

“It was overall a great, great play by all five guys on the ice,” Jankowski said. “‘Fabs’ [Dante Fabbro] made a great breakout to me, and I saw [Sissons]. I flipped over to him. He did a good job of taking it to the net and getting a good shot on goal, and I just followed it up.

“Just trying to help the team whatever way I can and prove I belong here and stick around, producing offensively when I can, as well.”

Dickinson tied it 2-2 at 3:09 on a wrist shot from the slot.

Foligno put the Blackhawks back in front 3-2 at 5:21 when he tapped in the rebound of Joey Anderson’s shot from the right circle.

O’Reilly tied it 3-3 at 12:59 on the power play, scoring on a backhand rebound following a shot by Forsberg.

The Predators are above .500 for the second time this season. They were 11-10-0 after a 3-2 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 28.

“Well, it’s crucial,” Brunette said. “This is a crucial time of the year, kind of the moving time. We’ve stayed in the mix, battled hard. The last 11 games I thought we’ve played really well. We’re trending in the right direction.”

NOTES: Nashville and Chicago combined for three goals in a span of 58 seconds -- the second-fastest three goals by two teams this season, behind the Penguins and San Jose Sharks on Nov. 4 (0:53). … O'Reilly scored his seventh power-play goal of the season; entering Tuesday, the only other players with as many were Brock Boeser (eight), Leon Draisaitl, Sam Reinhart and Chris Kreider (seven each). … Foligno became the first Blackhawks player age 36 or older with a multigoal game since Marian Hossa (two times in 2016-17).