Steven Stamkos' hat trick propels Predators to OT win over Blackhawks

Field Level Media|published: Sat 8th March, 23:17 2025

NHL: Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks

Feb 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Steven Stamkos completed a hat trick in overtime to lift the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 win against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

Stamkos fired a one-timer from the left circle at 2:39 of the extra frame for his 14th career hat trick.

Justus Annunen made 17 saves for the Predators, who have won three straight.

Alex Vlasic and Ilya Mikheyev scored for the Blackhawks, who are 3-0-2 in their past five games. Arvid Soderblom made 38 saves.

Nashville dominated in the first period, outshooting Chicago 17-6, but Soderblom was sharp.

The goalie got across to deny Jonathan Marchessault's snapshot from in front on a partial 2-on-1 rush just over four minutes in. Two minutes later, he was quick to get to the right post to get in front of Jakub Vrana's attempt from the bottom of the right circle, and late in the period held off Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly on back-to-back opportunities.

Chicago pressed early in the second period and got rewarded for it at 1:56. Connor Bedard sent a backhand feed from the left wall to Vlasic at the near point, and the defenseman walked it a few strides up in the zone before firing a wrist shot that deflected off O'Reilly's stick over the knob of Annunen's stick for a 1-0 lead.

Stamkos responded 40 seconds later on the power play to tie it 1-1. He took a pass from Marchessault at the left wall to the near face-off dot and wired it through the five-hole at 2:36, connecting 15 seconds into a double-minor man advantage.

Stamkos put the Predators ahead 2-1 at 12:20. O'Reilly dished a backhand from behind the net that Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno tried to corral, but instead deflected it to Stamkos, who snapped it top corner over Soderblom's glove from the left hashmarks.

After a tying goal was overturned for offside early in the third period following a Nashville challenge, the Blackhawks got one that counted at 12:22 when Mikheyev was uncovered in front to quickly put a Ryan Donato feed past Annunen.

--Field Level Media

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