The Nashville Predators are up against it now. Down 2-1 in the series, the Preds will have to endure at least one more game without star defenseman Shea Weber as they try to stave off a two-game hole in Chicago.
The Blackhawks made key adjustments after their big Game 2 loss, which paid immediate dividends. Can the Hawks put even more pressure on the wounded Preds and take a commanding 3-1 series lead? Find out all you need to know about Game 4 with our preview below.
Over in the East, the New York Islanders will also look to capitalize on home-ice and put the Washington Capitals in a 3-1 hole. Check out our preview of Game 4 of the Caps vs. Isles.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks Game 4 Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 — April 15, 8:30 PM ET, Chicago 4 at Nashville 3 (OT)
Game 2 — April 17, 9:30 PM ET, Chicago 2 at Nashville 6
Game 3 — April 19, 3 PM ET, Nashville 2 at Chicago 4
Game 4 — April 21, 9:30 PM ET, Nashville at Chicago – view all NHL lines
Game 5 — April 23, Time TBD, Chicago at Nashville
Game 6* — April 25, Time TBD, Nashville at Chicago
Game 7* — April 27, Time TBD, Chicago at Nashville
*If necessary
Betting on the Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators predictably looked lost without top defenseman Shea Weber in Game 3. Roman Josi and Weber’s replacement Seth Jones couldn’t live with the Blackhawks who scored three of their four goals with that blueline duo on the ice.
[sc:NHL240 ]Meanwhile, Pekka Rinne couldn’t quite replicate his Game 2 heroics between the sticks. Rinne didn’t look particularly impressive heading into the postseason, and he has not looked like the Vezina Trophy finalist so far in this series. He’s given up four goals twice in three games.
The Preds now face an uphill battle to prevent falling into a deep hole. Weber is still expected to miss Game 4 due to a lower body injury so Nashville will need a much better effort from Jones and Rinne to withstand the Hawks’ inevitable pressure in Chicago.
With the Preds’ blue line ailing, the offense must also provide something closer to the six goals they scored in Game 2. Center Craig Smith has been playing very well and assisted in both the Preds’ goals in the Game 3 loss. He has five points in three games thus far.
However, top scorer Filip Forsberg (26 goals and 63 points) has yet to make a major impact in the series, and has gone pointless in both Preds losses.
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Betting on the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville needed to make some moves head of Game 3 after their huge 6-2 Game 2 loss; he made the right ones as the Blackhawks ran out 4-2 winners.
Out went No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford, who shipped in nine goals in the first two games, including all six in Game 2. In went Scott Darling, who made 35 saves in a much more assured performance in their Game 3 win. That performance should be enough to earn him another start in Game 4. The Blackhawks are now 5-1 in the last six games with Darling between the sticks.
Quenneville then inserted Andrew Desjardins into the fourth line, and he delivered with the opening goal in Game 3. The Blackhawks also benefited from addition by subtraction, as the top line of Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad jumped all over the Weber-less Preds.
Hossa, in particular, was spectacular in Game 3. He didn’t score in six shots on target, but he did assist on the Hawks’ first two goals. Meanwhile, Toews added a goal and an assist, pushing his total to five points in three games.
The Hawks’ offense will still have the advantage of not facing Weber in Game 4, not that they need any more help scoring at home against the Preds. Chicago is 6-2 in its last eight home games against Nashville, and has scored four or more goals in four of those meetings.
Writer’s Prediction
The Blackhawks bully the Weber-less Preds again and roll to a 4-1 Game 4 win.
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