Morning Box Score: Blackhawks Knock Nashville Out of Tune

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville returned to the bench after missing four games with a bleeding stomach ulcer. The team responded in kind with an emphatic 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators in Music City, USA. The Czechs, Tomas Kopecky and Marian Hossa, scored for the Hawks (Patrick Sharp added an empty netter late), and Corey Crawford continued his strong play in goal, stopping all 31 Predators shots on goal.

The win also vaulted the Blackhawks in the Western Conference playoff standings to seventh place, over these same Predators and the Dallas Stars. With Crawford's recent strong play in net and the team playing its tightest defense of the season, the Blackhawks seem to be catching fire at just the right time. Last night's win was their third straight, and four of their last five. After the game, Quenneville recognized the logjam at the bottom of the standings and said the Blackhawks need to continue playing the way they have. "I don't think we're ever in a place where we should feel comfortable," Quenneville said. "You look at the standings, and the next opponent is right in that wheelhouse. Six teams at 70 points is pretty amazing."