The Chicago Blackhawks are 0-7 over their last seven games, including three straight losses to the Nashville Predators in their first-round playoff series. The Blackhawks need a win over the Predators this Thursday night in Game 4 to keep their postseason alive.
Blackhawks vs. Predators odds 2017: Chicago a betting underdog in elimination game
The Chicago Blackhawks will need four straight wins to overcome their 0-3 series hole against the Nashville Predators, starting with their Game 4 matchup on Thursday night.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago is a +110 road underdog in Nashville at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Predators are going off as -130 favorites to close out the series at home.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks locked up the top seed in the Western Conference with a 20-4-2 run and climbed to the top of the Stanley Cup odds to become a 4/1 favorite to win the Cup. Perhaps Chicago peaked too early, as the Blackhawks have failed to win a game in the month of April, with four straight losses to end the regular season and three straight losses this postseason.
The Blackhawks were shut out twice on their home ice in Game 1 and Game 2 before losing in overtime in Game 3. But in the last 18 postseason games that the Blackhawks have faced elimination, Chicago is 14-4.
Betting Line / Total: Nashville -130 / 5 Goals
Trend: The Blackhawks are 0-7 in their last seven games.
Trend: The Predators are 5-0 in their last five playoff games at home.
Nashville Predators
Any time that the top seed in a conference finds itself in a 3-0 series hole, fans and experts alike are going to be surprised. But what makes this Nashville lead even more surprising is how good the Predators have looked taking it. Nashville has outscored Chicago 9-2 in this series and out-shot the Blackhawks 98 to 95.
Pekka Rinne has been outstanding and the Predators did get a few fortuitous bounces in Game 3, but they’ve made their own luck and earned this 3-0 lead. The Predators are 5-0 in their last five postseason home games.
Thursday night’s total is set at five goals. The OVER is 10-3-7 in the last 20 games between these two division rivals per the OddsShark NHL Database.
The hardest win to earn in a best-of-seven series is the fourth one. Nashville has the Blackhawks in a deep hole, but to avoid a trip back to Chicago and any signs of life from their usually resilient rivals, the Predators will need to finish the sweep here in Game 4.
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators
When: Thursday, April 20, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
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