Morning Box Score: Predators Maim Blackhawks

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 24, 2014 2:30PM

Nashville 3, Blackhawks 2
The NHL's Western Conference is absolutely loaded with teams with realistic chances of Stanley Cup glory. Those are the teams that will test the Blackhawks' mettle if they wish to drink from the Cup once again. The Hawks fell short against one of their Central Division rivals Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, as they had no answer for Nashville forward James Neal.

Neal gives the normally defensive-minded Predators a much-needed offensive weapon and he lived up to expectations with a natural hat trick against Antti Raanta. Neal scored goals in each period and Predators goalie Pekka Rinne withstood a late Hawks surge to hand Chicago its first regulation loss of the season. Nashville remains atop the Central Division with a 5-0-2 record and earned a measure of revenge against the Blackhawks after a 2-1 overtime loss at the United Center last Saturday.

Ben Smith and Andrew Shaw scored goals for the Blackhawks while Raanta stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced.