This is the moment the 2021 season has been building to for Chicago.
With just 11 games remaining, the Blackhawks are just two points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff spot and have three-straight games against the team the directly trail; the Nashville Predators. Still looking for their first win of the season over Nashville, the Blackhawks have nine of their final 11 games this season against teams in a current playoff position, so every game and every point is up for grabs in a playoff-like atmosphere from here on out.
This series could put the Blackhawks back in playoff position, or it could be the final nail in the coffin.
One-Timers
• Juuse Saros has turned in four 40-save performances in the last month, going 10-4-0 with a .952 save percentage and 1.56 goals-against average. He’s beaten the Blackhawks twice during that span, stopping 70 of 71 attempts.
• Since Game 1 of the 2017 first-round sweep, the Hawks are 5-12-4 against the Predators (including 0-3-2 this year). They’ve scored more than 2 goals only TWICE in those 21 games.
• Vinnie Hinostroza matched a single-game career high with three assists in the Blackhawks’ win on Saturday night. It was his seventh career three-point game. He has five assists in six games with the Blackhawks since being re-acquired on April 2nd.
Puck Drops and Broadcast Info
• Monday, April 19th at 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, BSSO
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
• Wednesday, April 21st at 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
• Friday, April 23rd at 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH+, BSSO, ESPN+
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (21-19-5, 47 pts)
DeBrincat – Dach – Strome
Hagel – Suter – Kane
Kubalík – Kurashev – Hinostroza
Connolly – Kämpf – Carpenter
Keith – Kalynuk
Zadorov – Murphy
Stillman – Mitchell
Lankinen
Subban
Predators (24-21-1, 49 pts)
Grimaldi – Johansen – Arvidsson
Järnkrok – Granlund – Kunin
Cousins – Haula – Duchene
Trenin – Sissons – Jeannot
Josi – Benning
Ekholm – Ellis
Harpur – Gudbranson
Saros
Rinne
Tale of the Tape
Powerplay
Blackhawks: 23.7% (7th)
Predators: 18.9% (22nd)
Penalty-Kill
Blackhawks: 74.8% (28th)
Predators: 74.8% (29th)
Faceoffs
Blackhawks: 46.8% (28th)
Predators: 51.6% (8th)
Goals Per Game
Blackhawks: 2.78 (18th)
Predators: 2.52 (26th)
Goals Against Per Game
Blackhawks: 3.04 (20th)
Predators: 2.83 (16th)
Top Scorer
Blackhawks: Patrick Kane – 15 goals, 41 assists, 56 points
Predators: Filip Forsberg – 11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Calvin de Haan (Day-to-day – Hip)
Adam Boqvist (Day-to-day – Concussion)
Brent Seabrook (LTIR – Retirement)
Zack Smith (LTIR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (LTIR – Concussion)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Predators:
Filip Forsberg (Week-to-week – Upper Body)
Brad Richardson (Day-to-day – Lower Body)
Mark Borowiecki (Week-to-week – Upper Body)
Luca Sbisa (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Matt Benning (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Alexandre Carrier (Week-to-week – Lower Body)
Mathieu Olivier (Week-to-week – Lower Body)
Eeli Tolvanen (Week-to-week – Lower Body)
Dante Fabbro (Week-to-week – Upper Body)
Keep An Eye Out For
Patrick Kane Breaking Out Of His “Slump.” After scoring 11 goals in the first month and a half of the season, Kane has scored just four goals in 22 games since the beginning of March. Kane has not scored this season against the Predators, the only team he has yet to score against, and has just two assists in the five meetings this season. He is still third in the NHL in points (56), but will have to be super-Kane to help the Blackhawks overcome the Predators stifling defense.
Building A Wall, Brick By Brick. Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne have been monsters against the Blackhawks this season, teaming up for a .960 save-percentage and a .892 high-danger save-percentage in five games against Chicago. Of all Central Division opponents, Nashville has had the best team-goaltending against the Blackhawks this season.