Niemi shuts out the Predators, Hawks pull even

When Jonathan Toews suggested maybe it was good the Blackhawks lost Game 1 to Nashville to "get the jitters out," he apparently knew what he was talking about.

The Hawks played a textbook playoff game Sunday night at the United Center, riding strong team defense and the goaltending of Antti Niemi to a 2-0 win over the Predators to even their Western Conference quarterfinal series at 1-1 heading to Nashville.

"We had a lot more battle in our game," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

"It was kind of shocking in that first game not to come out on top," Toews said.

Dave Bolland scored in the second period and Patrick Kane in the third to back Niemi's 23-save performance.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena.

"We had a lot of energy tonight," Kane said. "A lot of guys where banging and hitting and blocking shots. There are a lot of positives you can take out of this game: getting pucks to the net, getting traffic, the power play was better and it still can be better, I think.

"Everyone was pumped up to play. We wanted to get that (Game 1 loss) back. You see the other seven series were 1-1 and we didn't want to be the only series 0-2."

Niemi was excellent in posting the first shutout of the playoffs in any series. He bounced back just as the Hawks believed he would from allowing that soft goal to J.P. Dumont that turned around Game 1.

"I thought about it after the game and I didn't want to think about it at all after that," Niemi said.

"Antti made a couple really big saves there in the second period," Duncan Keith said. "The whole team has confidence in him. He's been great for us all year every time he's played."

After a scoreless first period the Hawks cranked it up in the second, holding Nashville without a shot for 11 minutes and drawing three straight penalties starting with a tripping call on Jordin Tootoo at 8:02.

The Hawks turned Tootoo's penalty into a power-play goal by Bolland at 8:44. Bolland beat fallen goalie Pekka Rinne with a backhander from the left side after taking a feed from Toews.

Jerred Smithson took a tripping penalty at 10:19 and Martin Erat a holding penalty at 13:22, but the Hawks couldn't take advantage despite spending a considerable amount of time in the Nashville zone.

For the second time in two games the Hawks took a 1-0 lead to the third period, but this time they were able to add to it.

Kane scored a huge goal 4:18 into the third period when he kept the puck on a 3-on-1 and snapped a shot past Rinne from inside the right circle.

Patrick Sharp set up the goal when he chipped the puck off the boards to Kane past pinching Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis at the Predators' blue line.

"Sharpie made a great play along the boards," Kane said. "That's usually a play where I'll give it back to him. I was looking at Sharpie the whole time and I figured that maybe the goalie was expecting the pass so I just took a look at the net and fired it."

Niemi's best save of the night came early in the second period, a terrific pad stop out of nowhere to rob Dustin Boyd on a rebound.

Toews had the best chance in the first period when Marian Hossa found him cutting to the net in front, but the Hawks captain rang a shot off the crossbar net the 11-minute mark.

Tim Sassone's game tracker Three stars 1. Antti Niemi, Hawks: Brushed aside the bad goal in Game 1 with a 23-save shutout.2. Patrick Kane: A goal and assist for the star winger.3. Dave Bolland, Hawks: Second-period power-play goal was critical.By the numbersHawks outhit Nashville 32-28 and won 52 percent of the faceoffs.The quote"Now we've got to carry this over to Nashville." - Hawks winger Patrick KaneFalse21442148Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp celebrate Bolland's goal during the second period.Associated PressFalse <div class="infoBox"><h1>More Coverage</h1><div class="infoBoxContent"><div class="infoArea"><h2>Stories</h2><ul class="links"><li><a href="/story/?id=374245">Niemi's shutout special <span class="date">[4/18/10]</span></a></li><li><a href="/story/?id=374242">Bolland answers challenge <span class="date">[4/18/10]</span></a></li><li><a href="/story/?id=374240">Hawks' shake-up works wonders <span class="date">[4/18/10]</span></a></li></ul><h2>Photo Galleries</h2><ul class="gallery"><li><a href="/story/?id=374232">Hawks vs. Predators, Game 2 </a></li></ul></div></div></div>