Preview: Predators at Blackhawks

[October 14, 2017]  Gracenote

The Chicago Blackhawks will have payback on their minds when they get a visit from the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. The Blackhawks amassed a Western Conference-leading 109 points last season but their postseason hopes were quickly extinguished in the first round with a stunning four-game sweep by the eighth-seeded Predators.

Chicago, which suffered its first regulation loss at the hands of Minnesota on Thursday, leads the league with 23 goals -- a stark contrast to the postseason series against Nashville in which it managed three goals and was shut out in both home games. "I don't know what it is about us so far, but it seems like this group is a little bit tighter than maybe the groups we've had in the past," Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane said. The Predators rode the wave of their upset of Chicago to the Stanley Cup Finals, bowing to Pittsburgh in six games. Nashville opened the season with a pair of losses but has rebounded to win its last two behind three goals and five assists from Filip Forsberg.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Tennessee (Nashville), WGN (Chicago)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (2-2-0): Nashville features one of the top defenses in the league but could be shorthanded against the potent Blackhawks. Captain Roman Josi sat out practice Friday due to a lower-body injury that has sidelined him for the past two games and Yannick Weber had to leave Thursday's loss after taking a shoulder to the head and is listed as day-to-day. The unit received a lift from 19-year-old Samuel Girard, who scored his first NHL goal and set up another in Thursday's win.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (3-1-1): Nick Schmaltz combined with linemates Kane and Ryan Hartman for 10 points in a 10-1 romp over Pittsburgh before he suffered an upper-body injury in the next game versus Columbus. Schmaltz has missed the past three games but is expected to rejoin the lineup for Saturday's matchup. "He has a lot of speed and it makes the defense second-guess. ... It gives the guy with the puck more time with the puck. He's definitely a key part to our success," said Hartman.

OVERTIME

1. Forsberg already has four goals in four contests after not scoring his fourth until the 31st game last season.

2. Kane lit up Nashville for three goals and nine points in five regular-season matchups in 2016-17.

3. The Predators are 6-for-19 on the power play while Chicago is 4-for-15 over the last four games.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 5, Predators 2

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