Thu Feb 14 10:56:08 2008

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Radulov, Preds welcome Blackhawks

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(Sports Network) - Nashville's roster overhaul this past offseason has given Alexander Radulov a chance to shine. Radulov will try to lift his team to another victory tonight when the Predators host the Chicago Blackhawks at the Sommet Center.

Radulov, a first-round pick by the Predators in 2004, set Nashville rookie records last year in goals (18) and points (37) while skating in 64 games. He has already eclipsed those numbers this year, posting a team-leading 23 goals in addition to a career-high 23 assists and 46 points.

Radulov scored twice in Tuesday's big 4-2 victory over Detroit. The Russian has back-to-back multiple point games -- he posted two assists in Sunday's win over Phoenix -- and has totaled 10 goals and four assists over his last 11 games, with Nashville going 7-2-2 in that span.

Chris Mason was stellar with 40 saves, while Martin Erat and J.P. Dumont also scored for Nashville, which has won two straight and earned at least a point for the sixth time in its last seven games overall (5-1-1). Jason Arnott posted two assists in the win.

The line of Dumont, Arnott and Radulov, formed on December 31, has posted 30 goals and 71 points in the last 21 games for Nashville, good for a 3.38 points per game average.

Mason has won three of his last four starts while turning in a 2.00 goals- against average, and is 2-1-0 in four games (three starts) versus Chicago this season with a 3.54 GAA.

Despite losing a number of key players from last season, including Kimmo Timonen, Peter Forsberg and Tomas Vokoun, the Predators are second in the Central Division with 66 points and are even with Calgary for sixth in the Western Conference.

Nashville has won five of its last six as the host and play the middle portion of a three-game homestand tonight. The Predators are 18-8-3 at home this season.

Chicago found its scoring touch on its season-long seven-game road trip Wednesday night, blasting Columbus, 7-2. Dustin Byfuglien scored twice during a four-goal first frame for the Blackhawks. The defenseman scored for the first time in nine games and leads all Chicago blueliners with 11 goals on the season.

Brent Seabrook, Robert Lang, and James Wisniewski each had a goal and an assist for Chicago, which won for just the second time in its last seven road games while improving to 2-2-2 on its lengthy trip that concludes tonight. The Blackhawks are 12-12-5 on the road overall this season.

Patrick Kane also tallied for the first time since January 18, a span of eight games between goals, Martin Havlat lit the lamp and Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 24 shots in the win.

Khabibulin is now 2-0-1 in last three starts with 1.62 goals-against average after going 0-8-2 in his previous 10 outings with a 3.22 GAA.

After winning their first two against the Blackhawks this season, the Predators have dropped three in a row to Chicago, including a 3-2 shootout decision in the last meeting in Nashville on January 13.

The Preds have won six of their last 10 versus the Blackhawks, but Chicago has won two of three and four of its last six in Nashville.