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 Despite the brilliant performance by Darling in his postseason
debut, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville called it an "easy decision"
to go back to Crawford for Game 2. "It was kind of a no-brainer. It
was probably a tougher situation to pull him out (Wednesday night),"
Quenneville said. "He’s been our strength all year long. It was one
period.” Nashville, which lost its final six games of the regular
season, must regroup after bolting to a 3-0 lead in the first 20
minutes before giving up three goals in the second period. "Other
than the second period, I thought we played a really good game,"
Nashville captain Shea Weber said. "It just didn't go our way, and
now we've just got to move past it."
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports, RSN, CSN Chicago, SportSouth
(Nashville)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS: While Darling was sensational and defenseman
Duncan Keith delivered the game-winning tally with his first
overtime goal in 94 postseason contests, the return of All-Star
forward Patrick Kane sparked Chicago's comeback. Back in the lineup
for the first time since suffering a fractured collarbone on Feb.
24, Kane collected the primary assists on power-play goals by
Patrick Sharp and captain Jonathan Toews to give him 93 points in 94
playoff games. The Blackhawks, who failed to score with the man
advantage in their final six games of the regular season, tallied
twice on the power play for the first time since March 14.
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ABOUT THE PREDATORS: Colin Wilson, who tallied once in the final 22
regular-season games, scored twice to ignite Nashville's fast start,
but center Mike Fisher suffered a lower-body injury early in the
second period and is listed as day-to-day. "You could go down a
checklist of things that you need from players on the ice, from
faceoffs, leadership, power play, penalty kill, and you just keep
checking the boxes when Mike comes out of the lineup," coach Peter
Laviolette said of Fisher. "Those are some big shoes to fill."
Goaltender Pekka Rinne's late-season swoon continued - he is 0-2-3
with a 3.23 goals-against average in his last five starts.
OVERTIME
1. Toews registered his fifth game in the postseason with at least
three points.
2. Nashville has been outscored 14-2 in the second period of its
last eight games.
3. Chicago has played at least one overtime game in 12 consecutive
playoff series, tying San Jose for the NHL's longest active streak.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Predators 2
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