NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Bryan Bickell scored in the first period, and Ray Emery made 20 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 Saturday for their third win in four games.
The Blackhawks improved to 12-0-1 against the Central Division this season and moved closer to clinching the playoff berth.
The Blackhawks won their third against Nashville this season and second in six days.
This is the first of a back-to-back between these teams with the second game Sunday night in Chicago.
Nashville lost its second straight and fourth in five games.
Emery posted his second shutout and the 13th of his career, and Chicago improved to 16-3-4 in one-goal games this season.
Chicago came in needing just four points to clinch that playoff berth. Now Blackhawks could clinch before taking the ice Sunday with losses by a couple other teams.
With the afternoon faceoff, enough of the Blackhawks' faithful got a flight to Nashville to make it feel like the United Center chanting, "Let's go Hawks" even before the puck dropped.
The arena was packed with 17,256 fans in attendance in a building whose capacity is listed at 17,113.
The Predators are the Western Conference's only team to reach the semifinals each of the past two seasons but desperately needed a win with only nine games left.
They had their chances in the third with a double minor when Daniel Carcillo high-sticked Nashville captain Shea Weber, nicking the defenseman's nose and drawing blood at 7:58 of the third.
But the Blackhawks improved to 16 of their past 16 penalty kills. Patric Hornqvist poked away a would-be empty netter by Chicago right wing Michael Frolik with 1:30 left.
Nashville took its timeout only to see Emery stop several chances including a wraparound pass from Taylor Beck to Hornqvist. Brandon Yip was just wide of the net before the final horn.
The Blackhawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Michal Handzus found Bickell on a cross-ice pass that Bickell one-timed past Pekka Rinne catching the Nashville goalie out of position at 5:31 of the first period.
Chicago outshot Nashville 10-2 with one of the Predators' rare chances broken up when Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook hooked Nick Spaling on a breakaway chance.
Nashville managed a late flurry, but Emery had a kick save on a Weber shot with 1:05 left in the first.
In the second, Emery stopped David Legwand from in front, got help when a Chicago forward tripped Matt Halischuk at the crease and then the goalie made a stop on Spaling as the Predators spent more time in the offensive zone.
Notes: Patrick Kane gave Chicago fans a bit of a scare early in the second when he appeared to catch an edge and his knees smashed into the goal post. He skated slowly to the bench before returning. ... Nashville defenseman Hal Gill turned 38 Saturday, and he's the only player over 37 to play for the Predators. He's 18th among active players, having played 1,093 games. ... Nashville C Paul Gaustad was scratched with an upper body injury.
