NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Bryan Berard made a successful debut for the Chicago Blackhawks, who got 31 saves from Jocelyn Thibault and extended their winning streak to three games with a 2-1 triumph over the Nashville Predators.
Berard signed with Chicago on October 31 after the Boston Bruins rejected an arbitrator's decision awarding him a one-year, $2.5 million contract. He snapped a scoreless tie 8:03 into the second period, backhanding a rebound at the top of the crease between the pads of goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
"That one was kind of lucky," Berard said. "I just snuck down there, there was a loose puck and the goalie was leaning a little bit, and I found the five-hole."
A former first-round draft pick, Berard had 10 goals and 28 assists in 80 games last season with the Bruins.
"He was excellent," Chicago coach Brian Sutter said. "He shot it where a goal-scorer should shoot it, right between the goalie's legs."
Defenseman Steve Poapst added an empty-net goal with 61 seconds remaining, but Scott Hartnell spoiled Thibault's shutout bid with 38 seconds to go.
Poapst's goal was no ordinary empty-netter. Mark Bell won a faceoff in his own zone back to Poapst at the goal line. Poapst fired the puck off the glass and it caromed some 175 feet directly into the Predators' net.
"I check all the angles before the game," Poapst joked. "They had the goalie out, so we were playing it like we were killing a penalty."
Steve Sullivan, Brett McLean and Mark Bell picked up assists for the Blackhawks, who have strung together three straight wins for the first time since December 17-22. They are 5-0-1-1 in the last seven meetings with the Predators.
Vokoun made 23 saves, but Nashville's winless streak reached four games (0-3-1). The Predators have just one win in the past nine contests.
"We had a lot of opportunities, but we have to be able to put the puck in the net," Vokoun said.
Both teams went 0-for-6 on the power play.
"We have to capitalize on our chances," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.
Chicago improved to 4-2 in one-goal decisions while Nashville fell to 1-3.
