For more, visit our Predators blog, On the Forecheck, and our Hawks blog, Second City Hockey.
3:00 P.M: Predators, Blackhawks Will Break Series Tie Saturday In Chicago
Chicago (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks will try to notch consecutive victories for the first time in this year's postseason when they host the Nashville Predators today in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at United Center.
This best-of-seven series is tied at two games apiece, with the teams alternating victories since Nashville opened the set with a victory in Chicago. Game 6 is scheduled for Monday evening in Nashville, while, if necessary, the seventh and decisive game will be held Wednesday in the Windy City.
The Blackhawks have posted both of their wins in this series via shutout, including Thursday's 3-0 triumph in the Music City. Patrick Sharp scored twice and rookie Antti Niemi used 33 saves to record his second shutout of the series in Game 4 at Bridgestone Arena.
Jonathan Toews also scored for the second-seeded Blackhawks, who entered the postseason as Stanley Cup favorites following their first division title since 1993.
“Tonight we kept plays alive and kept working just because we had support, and we didn’t get lazy out there,” Toews said. “We have to keep working that way.”
Also, Chicago welcomed back defenseman Brian Campbell, who had been out of action since mid-March after he suffered fractures to his clavicle and ribs due to a hit by Washington's Alex Ovechkin. Campbell logged just over 14 minutes of ice time in Game 4 -- nearly 10 minutes less than the 23 minutes, 12 seconds he averaged in 68 games during the regular season.
Pekka Rinne allowed three goals on 30 shots for Nashville, which is still searching for the first playoff series win in franchise history. The Predators have lost in the opening round in all four of their trips to the postseason and have never won more than two games in any single series.
“They came out with a lot of urgency and a lot of desperation,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said of the Blackhawks. “Every time we had a couple good chances, they came down and kept scoring.”
Patric Hornqvist, the leading goal scorer for Nashville during the regular season, missed his third straight game due to an upper body injury that he aggravated in the series opener. He is listed as questionable for today's contest.
If Hornqvist returns he could boost a struggling Nashville power play unit that has failed to score on 17 chances with the man advantage in this series.
The Blackhawks were 29-8-4 as the host this year, while Nashville was 23-15-3 as the visiting team during the regular season.
Chicago won the season series with the division rival Predators, 4-2. The Blackhawks won twice at home in the series and twice in Nashville. This is the first-ever meeting between the clubs in the playoffs.
See More:
