YOUNG BLOOD REJUVINATES HAWKS

A pair of rookies sparked the Chicago

Blackhawks to a rare triumph over the Nashville Predators.

Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien and Rene Bourque scored goals and

Craig Anderson made 20 saves as the Blackhawks recorded their

first win over the Predators in eight meetings with a 3-0

victory.

Entering the game last in the league in goals (145) and 28th in

points (44), the Blackhawks ended a three-game losing streak in

their first home game since January 29 and won for just the

fourth time in their last 14 contests overall.

"With no playoffs on the horizon, we talked this morning about following structure. They came back with some rejuvination and deserve a lot of credit,"coach Trent Yawney said.

Recalled from Norfolk of the American Hockey League on Monday,

the 20-year-old Byfuglien scored in his NHL debut when his wrist

shot from the right point beat goaltender Chris Mason to the

glove side with 4:46 left in the opening period.

"Just having the puck go in and not knowing who did it was a weird feeling. I'd never thought I'd score on my first night. It just felt awesome," Byfuglien said.

Bourque netted his 11th tally with just eight seconds remaining

in the second session, redirecting Mark Bell's one-timer from

the left faceoff circle for a 2-0 lead.

Patrick Sharp widened the margin with 8:41 to play by taking

Andy Hilbert's centering feed and sliding the puck inside the

right goalpost for his seventh of the season.

"It's great to be back in the swing of things. When you go that long without scoring it weighs on you. It was fun to put it in the net tonight. I think it helped everyone," Sharp said.

The tallies were all Anderson needed to record his first shutout

of the season and second career. He stopped seven shots in

each of the first two periods and six in the third to raise his

record to 4-9-2.

Claimed off waivers from St. Louis on February 3 after beginning

the season with Chicago, Anderson preserved the shutout with

4:40 to go by making a chest save in front on David Legwand, who

made his first appearance for Nashville in 32 games following

knee surgery.

"It was a read and react situation on the save. You get beat enough times back door, you learn quick.The stars were all lined up tonight I guess," Anderson said.

"We played unbelievable holding them to twenty shots. I couldn't have gotten the shutout without the twenty guys in front of me,' he said.

Starting in place of Czech Olympian Tomas Vokoun, Mason made 30

saves for the Predators.

"We got close but we need to get goals when we have those chances, Vokoun said. They just played hard for sixty minutes. It was our first game back and we all expected better. But we weren't very good tonight."

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