Players to watch:
NSH- Ryan Suter
Suter has played well of late, including a two-assist outing on Saturday. He has tallied more points (19) against Chicago than any other team in his career.
CHI- Jonathan Toews
The Blackhawks captain usually brings his A-game against the Preds. He?s also on a three-game point skid, which means he is due.
Starting goaltenders:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (2011-12 stats: 5-4-1, 2.24 GAA)
CHI- Corey Crawford (2011-12 stats: 4-2-2, 2.19 GAA)
Injury report:
NSH- Sergei Kostitsyn (lower body, questionable), Mike Fisher (upper body, doubtful)
CHI- Ben Smith (concussion, out)
Keys to the game:
NSH- Stellar even strength play? After a shoddy early-season performance at five-on-five, the Preds have improved greatly. Additionally, Chicago has the top-ranked penalty kill, so getting production power play will be difficult. The Preds need to be strong while at even strength tonight.
CHI- Get off to fast start? The Blackhawks are 5th in the NHL when scoring first; contrarily, the Preds are 23rd when giving up the first goal. Joel Quenneville?s club has to get off to a quick start in the first 10 minutes and not get lulled into Predator Hockey.
Numbers to know:
- The Preds are 3-2-0 on the road this season ? Chicago is 4-0-2 at home.
- The Preds are 2-0-0 vs. the Central Division this season ? Chicago is 1-0-0 vs. the Central.
- In last year?s season series, the Preds and Blackhawks each went 2-1 while on home-ice.
- The United Center has not been kind to the Preds recently, as they are 3-6-0 in the last three years in the Windy City.
- Pekka Rinne is 6-6-0 with a 2.33 GAA and .924 save percentage in 13 career games vs. Chicago. His likely counterpart, Corey Crawford, has a 1.48 GAA in four starts vs. Nashville.
- Martin Erat has 13 points in his last 14 regular season games vs. Chicago.
- David Legwand has more goals, assists and points against Chicago than any other player against any other team in franchise history.
NSH- Ryan Suter
Suter has played well of late, including a two-assist outing on Saturday. He has tallied more points (19) against Chicago than any other team in his career.
CHI- Jonathan Toews
The Blackhawks captain usually brings his A-game against the Preds. He?s also on a three-game point skid, which means he is due.
Starting goaltenders:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (2011-12 stats: 5-4-1, 2.24 GAA)
CHI- Corey Crawford (2011-12 stats: 4-2-2, 2.19 GAA)
Injury report:
NSH- Sergei Kostitsyn (lower body, questionable), Mike Fisher (upper body, doubtful)
CHI- Ben Smith (concussion, out)
Keys to the game:
NSH- Stellar even strength play? After a shoddy early-season performance at five-on-five, the Preds have improved greatly. Additionally, Chicago has the top-ranked penalty kill, so getting production power play will be difficult. The Preds need to be strong while at even strength tonight.
CHI- Get off to fast start? The Blackhawks are 5th in the NHL when scoring first; contrarily, the Preds are 23rd when giving up the first goal. Joel Quenneville?s club has to get off to a quick start in the first 10 minutes and not get lulled into Predator Hockey.
Numbers to know:
- The Preds are 3-2-0 on the road this season ? Chicago is 4-0-2 at home.
- The Preds are 2-0-0 vs. the Central Division this season ? Chicago is 1-0-0 vs. the Central.
- In last year?s season series, the Preds and Blackhawks each went 2-1 while on home-ice.
- The United Center has not been kind to the Preds recently, as they are 3-6-0 in the last three years in the Windy City.
- Pekka Rinne is 6-6-0 with a 2.33 GAA and .924 save percentage in 13 career games vs. Chicago. His likely counterpart, Corey Crawford, has a 1.48 GAA in four starts vs. Nashville.
- Martin Erat has 13 points in his last 14 regular season games vs. Chicago.
- David Legwand has more goals, assists and points against Chicago than any other player against any other team in franchise history.
