Dec. 11--There wasn't much for the Blackhawks to be happy about Thursday night. After dropping the Predators on Tuesday, the Hawks fell to the Predators 5-1 in Nashville.
Kane keeps streak alive
Here was the only bright spot for the Hawks. With the Hawks down 3-0 early and looking lifeless, the only real question for the Hawks was if Patrick Kane would extend his point streak to 24 games. He would, when he stuffed in a loose puck at 5:43 in the third period. The goal stood after a challenge from Predators coach Peter Laviolette, who contested Kane and center Marcus Kruger interfered with goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Slow start
The Hawks did not come ready to play. The Predators fired the first 10 shots on goal of the game while the Hawks failed to generate any offensive zone time. The only one who had a strong start was goaltender Scott Darling, but that would not last.
Predators explode
The Predators got on the board first with a goal from James Neal at 6 minutes, 54 seconds. Craig Smith batted home a shot that barely crossed the goal line at 15:56 and just moments later Filip Forsberg stuffed in a shot at 16:33. The Predators outshot the Hawks 18-7 for the period.
Drop 'em
The Hawks frustrating first period led to two fights in the period, one between Andrew Shaw and Barret Jackman and another at the end of the period between Andrew Desjardins and Paul Gaustad.
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