NASHVILLE: The Nashville Predators were happy to be back home, even if it was for just one game.
Rookie Marek Mazanec made 39 saves for his first NHL victory and the Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2 yesterday.
Craig Smith scored a goal and added two assists for the Predators. The three-point game equaled the Madison, Wis. native’s career high.
Matt Cullen, Nick Spaling, Patric Hornqvist, Viktor Stalberg, Mike Fisher and Shea Weber also scored for Nashville, which ended a four-game losing streak.
Patrick Kane and Brandon Pirri had the goals for Chicago, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Making his second start in as many days, Mazanec stopped seven shots in the first, 17 in the second, and 15 in the third.
“It’s awesome,” Mazanec said. “I am really happy. We played a really good game.”
The 22-year-old Czech is playing his first season in North America. Nashville played its first home game since October 26, having just returned from a seven-game road trip that spanned 17 days. They head back out on the road for games in Detroit and Toronto next week.
“Good response by our guys today,” Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.
“We looked at this game as the end of road trip, not the first home game really because of the quick turnover and obviously playing the Stanley Cup champions.”
Cullen scored the game’s first goal at 7:28 of the opening period.
Agencies
