Nashville Predators: Keys to Staying Perfect Against Blackhawks

It is the second of three-straight meetings between the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks, as the series shifts to Chicago tonight for the next two games.

With Monday night’s win against the Blackhawks, the Predators were able to re-gain a four point advantage over the Blackhawks, although the Blackhawks still have a game in hand.

It is the Dallas Stars, however, who are making things scary for the Predators.  They knocked off the Detroit Red Wings for the second game in a row, coming to within one point of the Predators with two games in hand.

The Predators are 6-0-0 against the Blackhawks this year, and need to take full advantage of that tonight.

They have nine games remaining on their schedule, four of which are against the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, and another against the Stars, who are usually a tough matchup.

The Predators are almost guaranteed to lose at least one of their tougher games, and likely to lose at least two, maybe more.

They need to take full advantage of their softer schedule if they want a realistic shot at the playoffs, and that is exactly the case tonight in Chicago.

Expect desperate effort from Chicago Blackhawks

For the better part of the last month, the point gap between the Predators and Blackhawks has fluctuated between two and four points, but the Predators have the opportunity to widen that gap to six points tonight.

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Even with a game in hand, that would be a tough hill to climb for the Blackhawks, and at this point in the season, I dare say at or near insurmountable.

Not only are the stakes high, but they will be doing anything in their power to find success against the Predators.  They have been snake-bitten against them for so many years, and this mind-blowing stat explains just how much trouble they have had.

Make that just twice in 22 meetings after Monday night.

Knowing this, the Predators should expect the Blackhawks to come out swinging tonight.  They will be doing anything they can to frustrate the Predators and take them off of their game, and they must stay calm in their own zone and outwork the Blackhawks at every turn.

Keep frustrating opposition

There is no doubt about it, whatever the Predators have done against the Blackhawks has worked and it is frustrating them.  All they need to do is stick to their game plan.

Be physical and work hard.  The Predators did a great job of this Monday night, being relentless on the forecheck and getting bodies to the net.

Finding multiple ways to score will also give them a good chance of winning, as they did last game, getting contributions from multiple players throughout the lineup.

Whenever your depth shows up, you are going to be lethal, and having to limit many players will give opponents fits.

And finally, keeping the puck out of the net will be critical.  If I had to guess, Juuse Saros will get the start again, although Pekka Rinne has also played admirably against the Blackhawks.

Whoever starts tonight will have to be on top of their game, and the defense will have to help out by limiting high-percentage opportunities from the opposition.  This is another area in which the Predators have had success, but with all the offensive talent the Blackhawks have, that could instantly change.

As I said, all the Predators will have to is just what they have been doing recently.  There is no need to overthink it, their approach has worked very nicely, and with overall stability throughout the lineup, they have a great chance to win again if they stick to their strengths.

The puck drops at 6:00 PM CDT, and will be televised on NBCSN.  Follow along with us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute game commentary.