NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Steven Stamkos contributed significantly to Nashville’s 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, netting a goal during regular play and securing the Predators’ third consecutive shootout goal.
Filip Forsberg scored his landmark 300th NHL goal with just over three minutes left to play, equalizing the score. Juuse Saros played a vital role in the win, turning away 24 shots throughout regulation and overtime. In the shootout, Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O’Reilly successfully converted Nashville’s first two attempts, while Stamkos sealed the victory with a successful shot on the third attempt.
For the Blackhawks, Connor Bedard and Alec Martinez managed to find the back of the net, while Arvid Soderblom recorded an impressive 39 saves. Unfortunately for Chicago, this loss marks their fourth consecutive defeat.
### Takeaways
#### Blackhawks:
While Soderblom had a solid performance, he allowed the crucial late goal to Forsberg and failed to stop any of the three attempts during the shootout.
#### Predators:
This game marked Nashville’s first shootout of the season, and the team’s ability to convert all three shooting attempts highlights their resilience, especially as they had been trailing late in the third period.
### Key Moment
Forsberg’s timely goal in the closing minutes was instrumental in sending the match into overtime.
### Key Stat
Jonathan Marchessault notched an assist on Stamkos’ power-play goal during the first period, extending his points streak to seven games. He had previously set a personal record with points in eight straight games from December 10 to December 27, 2024. Excluding only one game without a point, he has remained productive in 15 of his last 16 games.
### Up Next
Both teams are set to return to the rink on Saturday night, with the Blackhawks hosting Vegas and the Predators facing off against Minnesota.