at CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

April 19th, 2013
United Center
Chicago, Illinois
7:30 p.m. CDT
TV: NBC Sports Network
Chicago leads season series 4-0

The Chicago Blackhawks are one of a handful of teams the Nashville Predators have actually played well against this season. Not well enough to win, obviously, but well enough to put a scare in the ‘Hawks in a few one-goal games and another where Chicago was forced to make a third-period comeback. That doesn’t count for much, but in a season as dismal as this one you have to hang your hat on something. Playing the league’s best team close is as good as anything else Nashville has.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

(33-5-4, 1st in Central)

Corey Crawford has enjoyed the best season of his career this year. (PHOTO: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Within a week of clinching the Presidents Trophy that was set aside for them earlier this season after they ran off 24 games without a regulation loss, the Chicago Blackhawks are already looking ahead to the playoffs.

Key players

With Ray Emery listed as doubtful, Corey Crawford (17-4-4, 1.92 GAA, .926 SV%) will get the start tonight. His record might not be quite as impressive as Emery’s mark of 16-1-0, but all his other numbers are nearly identical. There’s no easy road for opponents no matter who’s in net for Chicago.

He pretty much does it all. (PHOTO: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)

I personally prefer averting my eyes anytime he’s on the ice lest I be reminded of that awful playoff mullet he sported a few years back, but Patrick Kane (20G-27A) is the engine of the Blackhawks’ offense. His eight power-play goals are five more than anyone else on the team and rank fifth in the NHL.

Others to watch

Brandon Saad (9G-15A) has turned in quite the rookie season, ranking fourth on the team in scoring behind only Kane, Jonathan Toews (21G-23A), and Marian Hossa (16G-12A). His name should be in strong consideration for the Calder Trophy, even if he ends up being overshadowed by players who contributed slightly more to lesser teams.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

(15-22-8, 5th in Central)

If I were commissioner I’d think about instituting a mercy rule for lockout seasons: if you lose seven games in a row to sink from playoff contention, you don’t have to play out your last four. Unfortunately for the Nashville Predators, I’m not the commissioner.

Key players

Neither is exactly prolific, but these are the Nashville Predators’ two leading scorers. (PHOTO: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports)

The three guys wearing letters on their sweaters lead the Preds in scoring with just four games remaining on the schedule. David Legwand (11G-12A) slept most of the early part of the season before realizing he was late for a very important date. Shea Weber (8G-15A) also started slow before scoring consistently for about 20 games. And Mike Fisher (9G-10A) was on a roll before being injured while blocking a shot. Fisher likely won’t play again tonight, but the other two will be Nashville’s best bets to score, even if they’re still long-shots.

Others to watch

Two goals in three games and a whole lot of forechecking, a.k.a the Bobby Butler plan for returning to Nashville next season. (PHOTO: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Bobby Butler (3G-5A) is a testament to how powerful it is to actually have something to play for. On an underperforming team where the vast majority of the players already have contracts signed for next season, the potential restricted free agent has two goals in the last three games and has been driving the play every chance he gets. That embarrassing penalty shot earlier this week aside, he has been making a convincing push to remain with the Predators in the dwindling moments of this season.

Poor Pekka Rinne (14-16-7, 2.35, .914). He deserved better than this season.

Bottom line

There will be one very good team on the ice tonight and one that’s broken beyond recognition. Nashville stands only the slightest chance of winning this game…and it feels like that chance is even lower when you have to sit through the game on NBC Sports Network. Silver lining: only three more games after this one before the pain stops for good.

at CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

April 7th, 2013
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, Tennessee
6:00 p.m. CDT
TV: FOX Sports Tennessee

That’s not double vision. The Nashville Predators really are playing the Chicago Blackhawks again. Chicago scored five minutes into yesterday’s game and held on for another 55 to win 1-0.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

(28-5-4, 1st in Central)

With Ray Emery having played yesterday, Corey Crawford should get today’s start. (PHOTO: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

Key players

Corey Crawford (15-4-4, 2.01 GAA, .922 SV%) should get the start in net today since Ray Emery played yesterday. He’s been in net for 89 percent of the Blackhawks’ losses this season but still wins two out of every three starts. Goaltending has essentially been all the Blackhawks have needed to beat Nashville this season, given that two of their three wins over the Preds have come by way of shutout.

Others to watch

Jonathan Toews (18G-20A), Patrick Kane (19G-25A), et alia.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

(15-16-8, 5th in Central)

After opening the season 4-1-2 on the road after a grueling seven-game trip, the Preds have tumbled to a 5-11-4 overall road record.

Key players

Shea Weber says the playoffs aren’t slipping away. That’s because playoffs can’t slip away when they’re already out of reach. (PHOTO: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)

Shea Weber (7G-14A) said after yesterday’s game that the playoffs aren’t slipping away. The coaching staff should have a doctor check him out immediately and make sure there aren’t any signs of a concussion because that quote and reality have a correlation of nearly zero.

Pekka Rinne (14-11-7, 2.31, .914) played an essentially flawless game yesterday, only giving up a goal when Jonathon Blum hung him out to dry on a 2-on-1 Chicago breakaway. A team that understood its situation would rest Pekka today, but the Preds said just yesterday that they plan to ride him into the sunset this season. We should all keep our fingers crossed that he makes it through that stretch in good health.

Others to watch

Everyone. There’s not a player on the team who couldn’t stand to step up a little bit taller, hit a little harder, and fire passes just a little more crisply.

Bottom line

The Nashville Predators have scored exactly one goal since Martin Erat was traded to the Washington Capitals. Aside from Pekka Rinne they simply don’t impress. They’ve dug themselves so deep a hole that even a win today would essentially mean nothing to their playoff chances. The only good thing about today’s game is that, like this nightmare season, it will eventually end.