Nashville Predators (22–10–2) at Chicago Blackhawks (10–19–6)
7:30pm CST,
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSN, NBCSCH/WGN
PROJECTED STARTERS
Chicago – Cam Ward (4–5–4, SV%: .883, GAA: 4.17)
Nashville– Pekka Rinne (14–5–1, SV%: .925, GAA: 2.07)
TEAM STATISTICS
Power Play
Chicago (11.4%, 31st)
Nashville (15.5%, 26th)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (71.8%, 31st)
Nashville (81.8%, 10th)
Shorts for/against
Chicago (31.8, 17th; 34.3, 28th)
Nashville (32.2, 12th; 28.3, 4th)
Shooting %
Chicago (8.9%, 27th)
Nashville (9.7%, T-14th)
Faceoff %
Chicago (50.2%,14th)
Nashville (52.4%, T-2th)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197lbs
Nashville 6’0” 198lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS
Chicago Blackhawks
Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–Dominik Kahun
Dylan Strome–Artem Anisimov–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–David Kampf–Dylan Sikura
John Hayden–Marcus Kruger–Brendan Perlini
Duncan Keith–Erik Gustafsson
Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook
Carl Dahlstrom–Connor Murphy
Nashville Predators
Ryan Hartman–Ryan Johansen–Kevin Fiala
Calle Jarnkrok–Kyle Turris–Craig Smith
Colton Sissons–Nick Bonino–Austin Watson
Miikka Salomaki–Frederick Gaudreau–Rocco Grimaldi
Roman Josi–Ryan Ellis
Dan Hamhuis–Mattias Ekholm
Matt Irwin–Yannick Weber
Analysis
Corey Crawford suffered another setback on Sunday. The 33-year old goaltender was placed on injured reserve after suffering another concussion, just days shy of his 34th birthday. At this point, quality of life comes into play for the two-time Stanley Cup champion, more than a timetable for a return.
As a result, goaltender Collin Delia was recalled from Rockford. Delia played great (.925 SV%, 2.34 GAA) in his second stint in the AHL. The 24-year old has tons of potential and should receive an extended audition for next season.
Chicago also activated Gustav Forsling and Artem Anisimov off injured reserve. Also, Henri Jokiharju was loaned to Finland for the World Junior Championship. The surprise move should be a good experience for the 19-year old defenseman, who has shown signs of struggling as of late.
Nashville enters tonight’s contest tied for the Central Division lead. The Predators lost on the road last night in Ottawa, 4 – 3 in overtime.
Only two players have scored double-digit goals for Nashville this season, forwards Filip Forsberg (14) and Craig Smith (10), and rely heavily on a suffocating defense and solid goaltending by Pekka Rinne.
Former Blackhawk forward Ryan Hartman is third on the Predators with nine goals. Hartman was traded from the Blackhawks for a first-round pick that Chicago turned into defenseman Nicolas Beaudin with the 27th pick.