Hartnell scores 1st NHL hat trick, Preds blank Blackhawks

 

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Game Information

Arena: Sommet Center Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Referees: ChrisLee, TimPeel Linesmen: DerekAmell, BradKovachik

Attendance: 17,113 (100.0% full)

Team Stat Comparison
209	Goals	253
279	Goals Against	224
51	Power Play Goals	94
88	Power Play Goals Allowed	82
6	Shorthanded Goals	12
12	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	13
1544	Penalty Minutes	1533
19	Average Penalty Minutes	19

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			CHI	NSH
8:37		Scott Hartnell Assists: Greg Johnson, Dan Hamhuis	0	1
9:59		Yanic Perreault Assists: Paul Kariya, Marek Zidlicky	0	2
12:03		Greg Johnson Assists: Scott Hartnell, Adam Hall	0	3
15:25		Scott Hartnell (Power Play) Assists: Yanic Perreault, Steve Sullivan	0	4
2ND PERIOD			CHI	NSH
No scoring this period			0	4
3RD PERIOD			CHI	NSH
4:40		Martin Erat Assists: Yanic Perreault, Kimmo Timonen	0	5
18:35		Scott Hartnell (Power Play) Assists: Yanic Perreault, Steve Sullivan	0	6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Scott Hartnell had his first NHL hat trick in Nashville's 6-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, and then promptly tipped his hat to Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun.

Vokoun made 40 saves for his second shutout of the season and the 14th of his career.

"Tomas played remarkably,"' said Hartnell, who also had an assist. "Without him, who knows what the score would have been."

The Predators scored four goals in the first period, chasing goalie Adam Munro after the third goal. Craig Anderson was in net the rest of the way for Chicago.

Greg Johnson spotted Hartnell skating low through the slot and passed him the puck for the first goal of the game at 8:37. Less than 1{ minutes later, Yanic Perreault poked the puck by Munro from the left side of the net.

Johnson made it a 3-0 game at 12:03 with a wrist shot from the slot that beat Munro, who gave up three goals on seven shots.

Anderson allowed the fourth goal of the period on the power play as Hartnell tipped the puck in from the left side of the net.

"Things came to us real easy in the first period," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. ``It is a little bit of human nature to let your foot off the gas a bit after a start like that. When a game is so easy at the start it is a hard game to play."

Martin Erat gave the Predators a 5-0 lead at 4:40 of the third period, going over Anderson's left shoulder for the goal.

Hartnell scored his third goal, his second on the power play, with 1:25 to play, beating Anderson with a high shot.

"It's cool to do this," Hartnell said. "I didn't think it would happen in this game. I've had a lot of two-goal games. You always wonder if you are ever going to do it. Getting three goals in an NHL game might be a once in a lifetime thing, but getting the win is so much more important."

Neither team scored in the second period as Chicago outshot Nashville 14-2. The Blackhawks also had 21 shots in the third.

"Obviously, I want to look at the fact that we did generate some chances," Chicago coach Trent Yawney said. "We just didn't finish some of them off. Vokoun made some big stops. It just goes to show you what good goaltending does for a team."

Vokoun improved to 27-11-5 this season.

"I play to win and that is about it," Vokoun said. "My job is to stop the puck. I can't control anything else."

Game notes
The Predators recalled Jordin Tootoo, who played against Chicago. ... Perreault scored his 20th goal of the season. ... Erat has a four-game point scoring streak with two goals and two assists and nine points in his last nine games (six goals, three assists). ... The Predators have not allowed a power-play goal in their last three games, killing off 19 straight.