8:10 pm
March 28

Predators @ Blackhawks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Nashville Predators (17-17-1)

@ Chicago Blackhawks (16-14-5)

 

Starting Goalies:

Pekka Rinne (NSH): Unconfirmed

Malcolm Subban (CHI): Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Nashville Predators: (+105)

Chicago Blackhawks: (-125)

 

• The Nashville Predators will try to extend their season-high four-game winning streak when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night to complete a weekend series. Nashville is coming off a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks one night earlier. Ryan Johansen, Rocco Grimaldi and Mikael Granlund each scored as the Predators pulled within two points of Chicago for fourth place in the Central Division standings. Juuse Saros stopped 29 of 30 shots in net to improve to 9-6-0 on the season. It has been a good week for Nashville, which has outscored opponents 16-5 during its winning streak.

• Nashville’s latest win came despite the absence of Filip Forsberg, who leads the team in goals (11) and points (29). Forsberg sat out the first game against the Blackhawks because of an upper-body injury, and his status is day-to-day. As the Predators wait to learn whether Forsberg can return Sunday, the Blackhawks look forward to the continued presence of one of their young standouts. Kirby Dach made his season debut Saturday after missing several months with a broken wrist. Dach, 20, was the Blackhawks’ first-round pick (No. 3 overall) in 2019.

• Chicago will try to bounce back after sustaining its first loss in three games. The Blackhawks are looking to make more of an impact on offense after scoring three goals or fewer in each of their past seven contests.

• Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton is looking for a more complete effort from his players in the finale of the weekend series.

• Kevin Lankinen allowed three goals on 34 shots to take the loss for the Blackhawks on Saturday. Colliton could give Lankinen a rest on the second night of a back-to-back set by turning to Malcolm Subban, who is 4-4-1 with a 3.14 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in nine starts this season.

• If the Predators follow a similar tactic and rest Saros, they have a proven veteran in Pekka Rinne. The 38-year-old is 8-11-1 with a 3.07 GAA and an .899 save percentage in 21 games (18 starts) this season.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Chicago Blackhawks
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