Captain Fisher leads Preds past Hawks.

There are still 80 games to play and no reason for panic, but it sure is strange seeing the Chicago BlackHawks limp out of the gate to an 0-2 start in National Hockey League play.

Of course, those losses came against some tough competition — a tough loss against the Blues in the Hawks’ home opener and then Friday (Oct. 14) at Nashville against the Predators, another team expected to battle for top positions in the Central Division.

Newly appointed team captain, Mike Fisher broke a 2-2 draw with the only goal of the second and that was all she wrote in this one, Pekka Rinne allowing no goals after the halfway mark of the opening frame.

Hawks grabbed the lead twice in the opening frame only to have the host respond on both occasions. Marcus Kruger notched his first of the season just 2:39 into the game but P.K. Subban, acquired by the Preds in a huge trade for Shea Weber in the off season, collected the first of the season for the Preds a little more than four minutes later.

Hawks’ defender Niklas Hjalmarsson put his team in front again with a goal just over two minutes later, but the third goal of the period by a defenseman tied it up again, Roman Josi pulling the trigger 3:27 from the end of the frame.

Fisher’s game winner came late in the second and Rinne turned aside 22 of 24 BlackHawks chances to nail down the win. Corey Crawford fell to 0-2 on the season, handling 24 of 27 in goal for the Hawks.

Saturday’s Games

All five Midwest based teams will be in action Saturday (Oct. 15) as the Blues (2-0) look to stay perfect playing host to the New York Rangers while the other four look to get off the shnide. The 0-1 Red Wings will be in Florida to wrap up its two-game road trip against the Panthers, the 0-1 Blue Jackets will host the San Jose Sharks, the 0-2 Hawks will entertain the Preds in the return match of a home-and-home weekend set while the 0-1 Minnesota Wild will play host to the rival Winnipeg Jets.