NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ The Predators downed the Blackhawks, 3-2, on Friday at Bridgestone Arena after scoring three goals on the Hawks penalty kill.
The Hawks got their first two goals from unlikely sources. Center Marcus Kruger scored his first goal since Game 2 of the 2015 Western Conference finals when he put the Hawks on the board with a goal 2 minutes, 39 seconds into the first period. Kruger's goal came at the end of a nice sequence with his linemates, Ryan Hartman and Marian Hossa. Hossa made a long pass to Hartman, who could not control it but kept the play alive. Kruger then cleaned up a loose puck in front of Pekka Rinne to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead at the time. Kruger had gone 41 games last season without scoring.
Then Niklas Hjalmarsson, back from his suspension, rattled home a shot from the left circle to put the Hawks ahead 2-1 before the Predators tied it later in the period.
