Blackhawks 3 Predators 0
NASHVILLE — Chicago’s best scorers finally got going, and now the Blackhawks are heading back home with the advantage once again.
Patrick Sharp scored his first two goals of the post-season, and the Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 3-0 and tied their opening series at 2-2 Thursday night.
“It was a must-win for us to stay alive in this series, and we took it very seriously,” Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said. “But regardless of the situation, we were coming into this game, we knew there were a lot of things we wanted to improve on, and that’s the No. 1 focus.”
Rookie Antti Niemi stopped 33 shots for his second shutout, and Toews had his first playoff goal and also added an assist. Marian Hossa had an assist, just his second in the series.
The Blackhawks made a couple lineup changes, including playing defenceman Brian Campbell for the first time since he broke his collarbone and a rib March 14.
Campbell said he was a little foggy early and called it a huge challenge. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville was happy to have him back.
“We liked the speed he provides and exiting of the zone, his puck possession game. First game in a long time for him, he did a remarkable job,” Quenneville said.
Nashville lost its first Game 4 in three tries at home. The Predators gave no offensive support to goalie Pekka Rinne, who had allowed only two even-strength goals the first three games.
“We had a few mistakes that we usually don’t make, so we have to make sure that we all regroup and get ready to go,” Nashville forward J.P. Dumont said.
Game 5 is Saturday in Chicago.
“We’re excited to go back home and have home ice, and it’ll be a fun place to play and be and a welcome fresh start,” Quenneville said of his second-seeded Blackhawks.
It was a party-like atmosphere with a band outside the arena before the game and a sellout crowd inside trying to will the Predators to a victory that would have given the franchise its first-ever 3-1 series lead. Nashville outhit (28-18) and outshot (33-30) the Blackhawks but couldn’t get anything past Niemi.