NEWSLETTER
No rest for the wicked tonight, as the Blackhawks and Predators get right back at it after last night’s 3-1 loss for Chicago.
Nashville enters tonight having won four-straight (and seven of their last eight) games to help pull themselves back into playoff contention in the Central Division. Chicago sits in fourth-place based on points (37) and points percentage (.529). They hold a two-point lead over Nashville (35), a three-point lead over Columbus (34), and a six-point lead over Dallas (31), with the Stars having played four fewer games than all three of the teams ahead of them at this point in the season.
Earlier today the Detroit Red Wings helped the Blackhawks and Predators out by beating Columbus in regulation for the second-straight game. And prior to puck drop, the Florida Panthers hold a 3-1 lead over the Stars after the first period. So the other teams in the Division are helping Chicago, now they have to help themselves by getting their first win of the season over the Predators tonight. Chicago is 2-0-1 in the second game of back-to-back contests on consecutive nights and 11-3-2 in the second game of a two-game series against the same opponent this season.
Tonight, the Blackhawks will be wearing their reverse retro uniforms for the second time this season. They are 1-0-0 wearing the special edition sweaters this season.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, NBCSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (16-14-5, 37 pts)
DeBrincat – Suter – Kane
Kubalík – Kämpf – Hagel
Janmark – Dach – Strome
Carpenter – Söderberg – Kurashev
de Haan – Boqvist
Keith – Beaudin
Murphy– Zadorov
Subban
Lankinen
Predators (17-17-1, 35 pts)
Arvidsson – Johansen – Tolvanen
Järnkrok – Granlund – Kunin
Cousins – Haula – Grimaldi
Trenin – Sissons – Olivier
Josi – Fabbro
Ekholm – Carrier
Harpur – Davies
Rinne
Saros
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Brent Seabrook (LTIR – Retirement)
Zack Smith (LTIR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (LTIR – Concussion)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Predators:
Brad Richardson (Day-to-day – Lower Body)
Mark Borowiecki (Week-to-week – Upper Body)
Matt Duchene (Day-to-day – Lower Body)
Ryan Ellis (Week-to-week – Upper Body)
Luca Sbisa (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Filip Forsberg (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Matt Benning (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Betting Odds
The Blackhawks are -1.5 point favorites against the Predators tonight, and find themselves at -121 on the moneyline according to the DraftKings Illinois Sportsbook. You can go right here to sign up and make a bet.
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What To Watch For
• Kirby Dach made a surprise return last night for Chicago. He’s not a surprise tonight, making his second appearance of the season. Expect a heavy load for Dach after playing 20:08 minutes last night in his first game since the 2020 postseason. Lineup changes were not announced prior to the game, but would not be surprised to see Dach centering a line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane for most of the night.
• Pius Suter has at least one goal scored in each of his last three games. He has 11 on the season, tied with Minnesota Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov for the most goals among NHL rookies this season. Suter leads all Blackhawks rookies with 16 points this season. Chicago leads the NHL in goals by rookies this year with 26.
• With tonight’s game, Patrick Kane will surpass Bob Murray for the sixth-most games played in Chicago Blackhawks franchise history, skating in his 1,009th game. Kane leads the Blackhawks and is third in the NHL in points this season with 47 in 35 games played, he also ranks third in even-strength points (31) and fourth among forwards in minutes played per game with 22:03.
Get Caught Up …
Can’t wait to see these sweaters on the ice again‼️#ReverseRetro | @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/dIP0qJsRvM
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 28, 2021
Colliton withholding any lineup changes until gametime.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 28, 2021
On sorting out lines moving forward: "We have some guys who are able to play a lot of minutes. To add another guy like that gives you flexibility. We’ll kind of see how it all shakes down here over the next few weeks."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 28, 2021
