Less than 24 hours after working their approach again right into a playoff spot, the Nashville Predators will attempt for 2 extra factors this afternoon once they face the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2 p.m. CT puck drop at United Center. Today’s contest is the fourth and ultimate assembly between the division rivals this season; the Preds have a pair of wins in opposition to the Hawks to date.
Nashville received its third straight sport when it beat the Vegas Golden Knights by a 4-1 ultimate yesterday afternoon, and people latest outcomes have given them the second Wild Card spot within the Western Conference.
Now, they’ll emphasize a greater begin than that they had yesterday as they search for one other victory in Chicago.
“A good start would be the first major thing,” Preds Alternate Captain Ryan O’Reilly mentioned following yesterday’s win. “We don’t get ahead of ourselves. We should be a little disappointed, a little embarrassed about our start, and respond tomorrow. It’s not going to be an easy game by any means. We have to kind of get right to our game.”
“It’s just the belief of the guys in this room, and that’s all that matters,” Preds Alternate Captain Steven Stamkos mentioned yesterday. “The coaching staff has a belief, the players have a belief, and it’s not always going to be pretty. We understand at this time of the year, points are more important than how good the game looks, but you want to build, and we have. We’ve put a decent stretch together here the past six, seven games and collecting points. It’s there for the taking. We play some teams that we’re battling right with here coming up, so every game is big.”
Goaltender Juuse Saros (higher physique, day-to-day) remained out of the Nashville lineup on Saturday. Matt Murray backed up Justus Annunen. Forward Joakim Kemell was the lone wholesome scratch for the Preds in opposition to Vegas.
The Good Guys:
Stamkos tallied twice, whereas O’Reily and Jost additionally discovered the again of the online for the Preds on Saturday. Annunen made his second straight begin and allowed only one objective on 40 pictures in opposition to Vegas.
O’Reilly has 24 targets and leads the Preds with 64 factors, adopted by Filip Forsberg with 30 targets and 59 factors. Stamkos has 33 targets and 55 factors on the season, whereas Luke Evangelista has 39 assists and 48 factors. Roman Josi has 11 targets and 46 factors from the blueline. Annunen is now 8-9-2 in web for Nashville.
The Opposition:
The Blackhawks are out of the playoff image and have misplaced three of their final 4 outings, together with a 4-1 loss to Colorado on Friday. Connor Bedard leads Chicago with 28 targets and 65 factors, whereas Tyler Bertuzzi additionally has 28 targets and 49 factors. Goaltender Spencer Knight is 18-19-9 in web; Arvid Soderblom is 6-11-3.
All-Time Meetings:
The Preds are 74-53-(4)-12 all-time in opposition to the Blackhawks, together with a 33-29-(1)-9 mark on the highway. Nashville is 8-2-0 within the final 10 versus Chicago and 4-1-0 within the final 5 at United Center.
The Predators have earned at least some extent in 32 of their final 38 video games in opposition to the Blackhawks (28-6-4), holding Chicago to two-or-fewer targets 30 occasions in that span. Nashville recorded a 16-game level streak in opposition to Chicago from Jan. 9, 2020-March 4, 2023 (13-0-3), tied for its longest level streak in opposition to a single opponent in franchise historical past (16 GP vs. (*22*) from Nov. 15, 2006-March 28, 2008). The Predators and Blackhawks have performed in opposition to one another 143 occasions, Nashville’s most in opposition to any single franchise.
Nashville Notables:
After sitting thirty second within the NHL standings on Dec. 8, the Predators enter Sunday’s sport occupying the Western Conference’s second Wild Card place with 73 factors (32-28-9). Since Dec. 9, Nashville has gone 22-14-5 (49 factors), the fifth-highest level proportion (.598) within the Western Conference.
Steven Stamkos tallied his 238th profession power-play objective within the second interval yesterday, shifting previous Brendan Shanahan (237) for seventh place on the NHL’s all-time checklist. It was additionally Stamkos’ one hundred and first profession game-winning objective, tying Jarome Iginla for tenth place on the NHL’s all-time checklist
Watch & Listen:
Coverage for at present’s contest begins at 1:30 p.m. CT with the Predators LIVE! pregame present on FanDuel Sports Network South, hosted by Lyndsay Rowley. Play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic and Chris Mason may have the decision on the tv aspect. Max Herz and Hal Gill will name the sport on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network.
