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9:00 P.M.: On Home Ice For Game 6, Predators Hope To Fend Off Blackhawks
(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks will try to close out the Western Conference quarterfinals with a third straight win when they visit the Nashville Predators for Game 6 tonight at Bridgestone Arena.
The second-seeded Blackhawks were down 2-1 in this best-of-seven series, but the Central Division champions have recorded consecutive victories to grab a three games to two lead and move within one victory of reaching the conference semifinals. Chicago made it to the conference finals last year before losing to Detroit.
After winning Game 4 in Nashville by a 3-0 score, the Blackhawks rallied for an overtime victory Saturday afternoon in Chicago.
Despite holding a 3-1 lead in the second period, the Blackhawks needed a short-handed goal by Patrick Kane with 13.6 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Marian Hossa, who was in the penalty box when Kane tied the game, ended the contest 4:07 into the extra session to lift Chicago to the 5-4 victory.
Hossa was given a five-minute major for boarding with 1:03 left in regulation. The hit on Nashville's Dan Hamhuis, who is probable for tonight with an upper- body injury suffered on the play, will not result in a suspension for Hossa.
With Chicago goaltender Antti Niemi on the bench for an extra attacker, Kane deposited the rebound of a Jonathan Toews shot to force overtime.
“(The five-minute penalty) was obviously a huge obstacle to overcome. Not just in overtime but to get the equalizer,” said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville.
Nashville remained on the power play at the outset of overtime, but couldn't convert. Hossa exited the box and joined the play in the Predators' zone. Chicago defenseman Brent Sopel unloaded a shot from the point that deflected off a Nashville player. The puck went right to Hossa at the side of the net and he buried it before Pekka Rinne could get across.
The Predators are now 0-for-21 on the power play in the series.
“We had a chance to steal a hockey game,” said Nashville head coach Barry Trotz. “We just made a poor puck management decision (on Kane’s goal)...our play away from the puck was poor.”
Andrew Ladd, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Tomas Kopecky also scored for the Blackhawks. Niemi finished with 17 saves.
Martin Erat tallied twice in the third period for the Predators, with his second goal breaking a 3-3 tie with 8:21 left in regulation. David Legwand and Joel Ward both registered a goal and an assist for Nashville, which got 27 saves from Rinne.
Patric Hornqvist missed his fourth straight game due to an upper-body injury that he aggravated in the opener. Hornqvist led Nashville with 30 goals this season, including a team-high 10 on the power play. He is questionable for tonight's game .
Nashville 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.
The Predators had a strong 24-14-3 home record during the regular season. The Blackhawks posted a 23-14-4 mark on the road. If necessary, Game 7 will take place Wednesday in Chicago.
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