CHICAGO — Roman Jose became the Nashville Predators’ all-time leading scorer when he had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Wednesday.
Josi has 567 points (147 goals, 420 assists) in 791 games and passed David Legwand, who had 566 (210 goals, 356 assists) in 956 games with Nashville.
“It’s definitely a huge honor,” Josi said. “I think just being here for that long, it’s something I never dreamed of when I first started in the NHL. So many people that put a lot of trust in me, so many people I’m thankful for, teammates who have been here for so long, staff, everyone. It’s definitely a huge honor.”
Video: NSH@CHI: Josi sets record on Novak PPG
Jesus Saros made 37 saves, and Juuso Parssinen had two assists for the Predators (14-13-4), who have won two straight after losing six in a row (0-4-2).
“Great accomplishment for Roman,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “The franchise has had so many real good, successful players. I think it speaks volumes, not only about his talent, but his longevity and what he means to the organization. Having the opportunity to coach him and deal with him every day, I ‘d like to say it’s not surprising, such a talented guy that’s driven and committed.
“The consistency level that he plays with is certainly exceptional. You don’t get recognized for those things and accomplish those things if you’re not a highly talented player that’s really driven, and that’s what he is.”
Connor Murphy had a goal and an assist, and Petr Mrazek made 33 saves for the Blackhawks (7-20-4), who have lost eight in a row and 16 of 17 (1-15-1).
“Whether it’s a lapse of focus from us, if we have a couple good shifts and feel like we’re getting rolling, we’re not staying disciplined enough to keep that going for a duration of time,” Murphy said. “And I believe that once we commit to that a little more…we’ll get rewarded for playing the right way.”
Nino Niederreiter gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 9:23 of the first period, scoring from the high slot off a breakaway pass Cody Glass.
Video: NSH@CHI: Niederreiter nets beautiful shot from circle
The Blackhawks scored twice in 37 seconds in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.
Murphy tied it 1-1 at 16:03 on a shot from the blue line that deflected off Glass in the slot, and MacKenzie Entwistle made it 2-1 at 16:40 when his shot from the right face-off circle deflected off the skate of Nashville defenseman Jeremy Lauzon.
Matt Duchene tied it 2-2 at 19:55, taking a cross-ice pass from Matthias Ekholm and tapping it in at the right post. It was Duchene’s third straight game with a goal.
“Yeah, that can’t happen, and it really hurts,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. “We were in a position that we haven’t been in [for] a bit. We needed to be ready to battle a little harder, and I think we won a lot of stick battles and physical battles behind the nets and around the blue lines in the first two periods. Then, it wasn’t there in the third. I think that was the biggest problem of the game.”
Josi gave the Predators a 3-2 lead at 1:27 of the third period, skating along the goal line and backhanding a shot past Mrazek.
Video: NSH@CHI: Josi nets a goal to grab the lead in the 3rd
Thomas Novak’s first goal of the season, on the power play at 6:09, made it 4-2. Novak took a pass from Josi and scored on a wrist shot from the left circle.
“It feels good,” Novak said. “Pretty good timing of the game for us to go up two. It felt really good to get the first one out of the way coming back this year.”
The Blackhawks played with five defensemen after Jake McCabe took a high stick to the face from Tanner Jeannot at 9:54 of the first period. McCabe did not return.
“He got a few stitches and they just had to check out the eye,” Richardson said. “They put some dye in to do all those tests and checks, and they came back tonight and said he should be fine going forward. So, he should be fine for Friday’s game (against the Columbus Blue Jackets).”
NOTES: Josi is the second defenseman to lead an active NHL franchise in scoring (Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins; 1,506 points). … Josi’s 27th game-winning goal passed Martin Erat for third in Nashville history Filip Forsberg (42) and Legwand (41). … Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh had an assist in 20:49 of ice time after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. McDonagh, who was hit in the face by a shot against the New York Islanders on Dec. 2, wore a full cage. … Novak has a goal and an assist in two games after being recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Monday. … Blackhawks defenseman Isaac Phillips was minus-2 with two shots and five hits in 17:59 in his season debut after being recalled from Rockford of the AHL on Monday. … The Predators have a 15-game point streak against the Blackhawks (12-0-3), their longest active streak against one opponent.
.