Nashville Predators: Three Positives from Win over Chicago Blackhawks
![Dec 21, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Nashville Predators forward Thomas Novak (82) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Nashville defeated Chicago 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports Dec 21, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Nashville Predators forward Thomas Novak (82) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Nashville defeated Chicago 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/876016d8229ed27fb2b15476bb09cd18e8a72d0f405769488c81a6d80ce2ee08.jpg)
2. Nashville Predators’ penalty kill was top notch
This game was not an egregious one from a penalty standpoint, but the Predators did serve their fair share of time in the box yet again. One of these times even included a four-minute double minor to Tanner Jeannot, who is one of the team’s most important penalty killers.
Yet the Predators stood tall throughout all of the time serving penalties. Never did the Blackhawks get a chance that made Juuse Saros struggle, as nearly all of their shots were held to the outside of the slot.
The return of Ryan McDonagh felt like a huge boost for the penalty kill, as the unit had taken a bit of a nosedive recently. Much of that has to do with the large amount of penalties that this team takes, but McDonagh is arguably the Predators’ best penalty killer and he was out for a little over two full weeks.
The team’s penalty kill was a strength early in the season, and they played like that in this game.