The Blackhawks coasted to an easy 7-3 victory on home ice last night—but the opposition gets tougher and the stakes get higher tonight against the Predators.
Chicago Blackhawks (12-8-3) at Nashville Predators (14-6-3)
7:00 PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (1-1-2, 3.81 GAA, .904 save%)
Nashville:
Pekka Rinne (13-3-2, 2.31 GAA, .927 save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago
Saad-Toews-Panik
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
Sharp-Hartman-DeBrincat
Bouma-Wingels-Hayden
Keith-Franson
Murphy-Seabrook
Forsling-Rutta
Nashville
Forsberg-Johansen-Arvidsson
Fila-Turris-Smith
Sissons-Bonino-Jarnkrok
Aberg-Gaudreau-Watson
Josi-Ekholm
Emelin-Subban
Bitetto-Irwin
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Chicago 17.9% (21st)
Nashville 25.8% (3rd)
Penalty kill:
Chicago 84.3% (4th)
Nashville 83.8% (6th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5):
Chicago 51.3% (10th)
Nashville 49.4% (19th)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 48.6% (24th)
Nashville 52.7% (4th)
SUMMARY:
After what probably felt more like a glorified scrimmage last night versus an injury-depleted Anaheim Ducks team, the Blackhawks face a real test tonight in Nashville.
The defending Western Conference Champion Predators sit 4 points ahead of the Hawks today, with a deep, fast, and big lineup. The same team that swept the Hawks out of the playoffs in the first round last year, arguably the biggest humiliation of the proud Chicago franchise in the last decade.
On a positive note, the Hawks are playing much better of late, and are now getting offense from multiple lines. Even the previously stalled power play is clicking regularly and climbing slowly up the league rankings.
But tonight’s task is significant, especially on the second game of a back-to-back on the road. I would not expect much, if any, lineup changes tonight, although Anton Forsberg is the likely starter in net for Chicago. We’ll recap later tonight or early tomorrow AM.
Follow: @jaeckel