Third-period collapse wake-up call for Hawks?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Barring a collapse of epic proportions over the final 23 games of the season, the Blackhawks are going to make the playoffs.

But for the second game in a row they faced a team below them in the Western Conference standings fighting for points and its playoff life and didn't match the desperation.

The Hawks let the Predators score four times in the third period Tuesday night in a 5-3 loss at Sommet Center that should serve as a wake-up call as to how games must be played from here on out.

"We're all fighting for a playoff spot," Duncan Keith said. "We don't have anything secured yet."

Penalties and some shaky goaltending by Cristobal Huet fueled the Hawks' third-period collapse. Starting with an iffy roughing penalty against Huet late in the second period, the Predators got four straight power plays to take over the momentum of the game.

David Legwand's goal at 2:10 of the third period, right after Huet's penalty expired, made it 3-2. J.P. Dumont tied it on a power play at 5:11 with Ben Eager serving a tripping penalty coach Joel Quenneville argued.

"I don't want to get into the officiating. It doesn't deserve a comment," Quenneville said.

Joel Ward got what proved to be the winning goal with 5:03 to play when he dug out a rebound Huet couldn't find quickly enough.

Shea Weber added another power-play goal with 2:50 left.

"In the third period we needed to do the smart things to finish it off, and we didn't do that," Keith said. "I wouldn't say it was just the penalties. We stopped moving our feet and allowed them to skate with it and make plays."

The Hawks, who got goals from Dustin Byfuglien, Martin Havlat and Patrick Kane, had been 28-1-3 when leading after two periods.

Nashville, the NHL's lowest-scoring team, scored 5 goals for only the third time in the last 41 games.

"I don't think there's a whole lot of excuses to be made," Adam Burish said. "I'll give them credit; they don't quit and right before the third period we said that in here. We knew they had the ability to come back from a 3-1 lead, and they did."

It marked the end of a long month on the road for the Hawks, who went 8-4 away from the United Center since the all-star break.

Did the grind of the road finally catch up to them?

"Tough to say," Quenneville said. "I don't like making excuses, but it's definitely not good enough. We've got a couple days here before we play again and we've got to get it back."

The Hawks remained a solid 8 points into fourth place with losses by Vancouver and Columbus.

"It doesn't matter where we're at or who we're playing; everybody's got incentive for what they're trying to do," Quenneville said. "We're in the same boat ourselves, so we've got to bring some emotion. Tonight wasn't our best."

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