It took triple overtime, but the Chicago Blackhawks took care of business at home to take a 3-1 series lead to Nashville for Game 5 on Thursday. Pressure is high on the Predators as they attempt to extend the series in front of their home crowd. Can Nashville live to fight another day? Read on as we give you everything you need to know heading into this do-or-die playoff game.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs don’t shy away from high-stakes games. Check out our complete previews for the Islanders vs. Capitals and Lightning vs. Red Wings.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 — April 15, 8:30 PM ET, Chicago Blackhawks 4, Nashville Predators 3 (OT)
Game 2 — April 17, 9:30 PM ET, Chicago Blackhawks 2, Nashville Predators 6
Game 3 — April 19, 3 PM ET, Nashville Predators 2, Chicago Blackhawks 4
Game 4 — April 21, 9:30 PM ET, Nashville Predators 2, Chicago Blackhawks 3 (3OT)
Game 5 — April 23, 9:30 PM ET, Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators – view all NHL lines
Game 6* — April 25, Time TBD, Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks
Game 7* — April 27, Time TBD, Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators
*If necessary
Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago has found its darling.
[sc:NHL240 ]Making just his second career playoff start, goalie Scott Darling was spectacular in between the pipes. Darling stopped 50 of 52 shots in 101 minutes of time on ice. He has now improved to 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA in three playoff games against the Predators. He stopped all 42 of the Preds’ shots in over 67 minutes of ice time in relief of Corey Crawford in Game 1 at Nashville and his .946 save percentage was instrumental in Game 3 on Sunday.
Darling also had plenty of help from Chicago’s trusty blue line. Johnny Oduya finished with six blocked shots, Niklas Hjalmarsson had four. Speaking of the blue line, it was another defenseman who sealed the win for the Blackhawks when Brent Seabrook scored on a booming slapshot a minute into the third overtime. Seabrook also scored the last goal in Game 3.
Patrick Kane was the primary facilitator in the defenseman’s game-winning goal. Kane now has four points in this season’s playoffs, right behind five points each from fellow forwards Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.
The Blackhawks have a grand chance at winning the series if Toews, Kane and Hossa all getting their teammates involved. The trio combined for eight points in the first two games of the series at Nashville.
Chicago has lost three of its last five games on the road.
Betting on the Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators have a deep hole to climb out of. Nashville will attempt to avoid elimination in front of its home crowd, but doing so may be quite difficult. The Preds have lost seven of their last 10 games at home.
If Nashville is to force Game 6, then it’ll need Pekka Rinne to have another excellent outing. Rinne stoped 45 shots in the 3-2 Game 4 loss at Chicago. He allowed just two goals in his last home start against the Blackhawks, a 6-2 Nashville victory in Game 2.
Colin Wilson, Roman Josi, Craig Smith (twice), Filip Forsberg and Mike Santorelli all got on the board in the big win in Game 2. Wilson, in particular, leads the Predators with four playoff goals. He and James Neal are the only two Predators to net a goal against Chicago’s Darling.
If Forsberg and regular season assists leader Mike Ribeiro (47) could create scoring opportunities for their teammates, then the Preds should have an excellent shot at extending the series. Ribeiro and Forsberg each have three assists in four regular season games against Chicago. Ribeiro had two assists at home in Game 2. Forsberg had an assist in addition to his aforementioned goal in Game 4.
The total has gone over in three of the four games in this series thus far.
Writer’s Prediction
Nashville extends the series with a tight 2-1 win. Create a betting account now and get the most off the big games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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