Morning Box Score: ‘Hawks Clinch Playoff Spot

By Matt Motyka in News on Apr 4, 2009 4:25PM

It’s official—with their 3-1 win Friday night over the Nashville Predators, the Chicago Blackhawks are headed to the playoffs. Samuel Pahlsson gave his team an early spark when he ripped a backhander past Nashville’s Pekke Rinne to make it 1-0 Chicago. The Predators answered later in the period, but midway through the second Jonathan Toews deposited the feed from Martin Havlat to put the ‘Hawks on top 2-1. Toews repaid the favor late in the third period, assisting Havlat on an empty-netter that guaranteed Chicago its first playoff appearance since ’02. The ‘Hawks still have some work to do, however, as they battle down the stretch for fourth place in the West and home ice in the opening round.