KHABIBULIN PULLED, HAWKS ROUTED

Paul Kariya and Vernon Fiddler had two goals each, and rookie defenseman Ryan Suter scored his first NHL goal to lead the Nashville Predators to a 6-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.

Yanic Perreault had a goal and an assist for Nashville, which has won four straight. Chris Mason had 26 saves for the Predators.

Matthew Barnaby had the lone goal for the Blackhawks, who have lost four of five.

Chicago starting goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was pulled midway through the second period after allowing four goals on 11 shots. Khabibulin, who was replaced by Craig Anderson, was lifted in a game for the second time this season.

Anderson allowed two goals on 20 shots.

Suter, Nashville's first-round pick in the 2003 draft, opened the scoring with 6:38 left in the first period. Following a face off in the Chicago zone, he rifled a high shot over Khabibulin's glove from just inside the point.

Barnaby tied it 41 seconds later. After a turnover in the Nashville zone, he beat Mason with a high shot.

Perreault gave Nashville a 2-1 lead with 1:14 left in the first, fooling Khabibulin with a rising shot from the right circle that hit the far side post and went in.

Fiddler scored his first goal on deflection during a power play at 2:10 of the second to make it 3-1. He redirected Steve Sullivan's low drive from the blue line between Khabibulin's legs.

Fiddler connected again at 8:08 to extend the Predators' lead to 4-1 and chase Khabibulin.

Kariya scored twice in the third period, the second on a two-man advantage with 3:49 left.

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