Chicago, IL – The Nashville Predators got a breakthrough win tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-2. It was the first win for new head coach John Hynes.
The highlight of the night came in the final seconds of the game when Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne scored his first EVER goal from his own net.
The Predators started strong against Chicago, dominating the first period and taking a 3-0 lead after the opening frame. Goals from Viktor Arvidsson at 3:16, Colin Blackwell at 8:22, and Matt Duchene at 16:55 proved to be a dominating period.
Dominik Kubalik snapped a quick shot past Pekka Rinne at 6:43 to get Chicago on the board, 3-1. That’s how the second period would end.
Into the final period, Alex DeBrincat showed some talented stick skills and sent the backhand into the net past Rinne at 5:32 and suddenly the Blackhawks were within a goal, 3-2.
As Chicago pulled their netminder, Corey Crawford, in the third, Nick Bonino banked a shot off the side board that slid into the empty net for the 4-2 Predators lead.
As the Blackhawks were mounting more pressure on Nashville with the 6 on 5 attack, Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne gathered the puck behind his own net, then lifted a shot the length of the ice that went into the net. This is the first goal ever scored by Rinne and it gave us the final score of the game, 5-2.
Rinne was like a little kid after the game gushing about his goal. He told reporters that since his team had a two goal lead at the time he decided to try something he had practiced on his own and flipped the goal into the net.
His teammates erupted in joy at the feat.
Nashville had their first practice yesterday under new head coach John Hynes who is trying to implement his system into the Predators’ game. There was evidence of his system tonight, but admittedly there are still issues that need to be worked out.
Injuries still plague the Predators with Ryan Ellis and Dante Fabbro still out of the line-up.
Nashville will travel to Winnipeg on Sunday for an afternoon game against the Jets. Puck drop is at 1:00pm.
