Dan Ellis stopped 34 shots, and Dan Hamhuis, Martin Erat and Jordin Tootoo each had a goal and an assist to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 win over Chicago on Friday night, snapping the Blackhawks' eight-game home winning streak.
Joel Ward also scored for Nashville, which ended a two-game winless slump.
Ellis, making just his second start in Nashville's last 12 games, was busiest in the first period when Chicago had 15 shots. Jonathan Toews scored midway through the period following a flashy stickhandling move.
Cristobal Huet made 19 saves for the Blackhawks.
Nashville, 13-4-1 in its last 18, closed to three points behind first-place Chicago _ which dropped to 9-2-1 in its last 12 _ in the Central Division.
Toews, who a agreed to a five-year, $31.5 million contract extension on Thursday, opened the scoring midway through the first to cap a standout individual effort. After taking a pass at full speed at center ice, Toews streaked down the Nashville slot, beat Hamhuis with a stickhandling move and tucked a low shot past Ellis' outstretched right pad.
Hamhuis tied it at 1 with 2:56 left in the period. His screened shot from the outer edge of the right circle slipped past Huet on the glove side.
Erat was credited with a deflected goal at 7:01 of the second that withstood a video review to put Nashville ahead 2-1. Jordin Tootoo turned and fired a shot from the left circle, and the puck banked in off Erat's left skate after he stopped at the edge of the crease.
The Blackhawks offense picked up again late in the third to generate several prime chances. Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Kane misfired, however, on two of the best opportunities.
Tootoo and Ward scored 35 seconds apart from the slot in late in the third period to break it open.
Tootoo connected from the slot with 2:03 left, then Ward was set up by Dave Legwand at the edge of the crease with 1:28 remaining.
NOTES: Nashville C Dave Scatchard missed his third game with an upper-body injury. ... Chicago D Jordan Hendry and Nashville RW Wade Belak were healthy scratches. ... The crowd of 20,887 was the Blackhawks' 65th straight sellout at the United Center.
