Nashville (12-18-7-4) at Chicago (19-13-8-2) 8:00pm
CHICAGO (TICKER) -- The Chicago Blackhawks try to make it 12 straight games with at least one point Sunday night as they host the Nashville Predators at the United Center.
Chicago is 5-0-4-2 over its last 11 games for its longest such streak since overtime losses was introduced in 1999-2000. The Blackhawks have not picked up a point in 11 straight games since going 6-0-9 from October 29-December 3, 1975.
The Blackhawks are also winless in their last four games (0-0-2-2) and are coming off Thursday's 4-3 overtime setback at Dallas.
Sergei Berezin scored twice, but Jocelyn Thibault allowed four goals in back-to-back starts for the first time all season.
Eric Daze missed Thursday's game with back spasms and is listed as probable for Sunday's game. Daze has eight goals and 11 assists in 24 games since returning from offseason back surgery.
Nashville has won three in a row for the first time since December 12-20, 2001 and is 9-6-3-0 since a woeful 4-12-4-4 start.
On Saturday, Scott Walker scored his second goal of the game 37 seconds into overtime in a 4-3 triumph over Phoenix.
Defenseman Andy Delmore also added his 14th goal, but only second at even strength. He is two away from matching the career-high total set last season.
Nashville has had two four-game winning streaks in its history. It last won four in a row from January 29 to February 8, 2001.
This is the third of five meetings between the teams this season. The Blackhawks hold a 1-0-1 advantage in the previous matchups.
On November 17, in Chicago, Steve Sullivan tallied twice in a 4-2 Blackhawks win and over a month later on January 4, defenseman Jason York scored with 3:38 remaining in regulation as the Predators rallied for a 3-3 tie.
TEAM DIV. STANDING GP W L T O PT GF GA HOME ROAD
Nashville 5th, Central 42 13 18 7 4 37 93 114 8-11-3 5-11-4
Chicago 3rd, Central 42 19 13 8 2 48 99 94 12-6-3 7-9-5
PREDATORS LAST 10 GAMES ? 6-2-2
BLACKHAWKS LAST 10 GAMES ? 4-0-4-2
NASHVILLE PREDATORS (13-18-7-4) AT CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (19-13-8-2), 8 P.M.
(Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators try to match the longest winning streak in franchise history tonight when they head to Chicago to face off with the Blackhawks at the United Center.
Scott Walker scored two goals, including the game-winner just 37 seconds into overtime, to lift Nashville over Phoenix, 4-3, for its third straight win on Saturday. The team last won three straight games in December of last season.
Nashville last won four consecutive games from January 29-to-February 8, 2001.
Andy Delmore and Jason York each posted a goal and an assist for the Predators, who improved to 3-0-1 in their last four. Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves in his franchise-record 18th straight game for Nashville.
Delmore has five goals in his last six games.
Nashville, which is 6-2-2 in its last 10 overall, will begin a four game road trip tonight in the Windy City. The Predators are 5-7-4-4 away from home this season and are unbeaten in their last three on opposition ice (2-0-1).
Chicago, meanwhile, comes into Sunday's contest riding a four-game winless streak after Thursday's 4-3 overtime setback to the Dallas Stars.
Sergei Berezin tallied a pair of goals for the Blackhawks, who have gone into overtime in their last four games and are 0-0-2-2 in that span.
Steve Poapst scored the other goal for Chicago, while netminder Jocelyn Thibault made 20 saves.
The Blackhawks, who have picked up at least a point in 11th straight games (5-0-4-2), should left wing Eric Daze back in the lineup tonight. Daze has missed the last three games because of a sore back.
Chicago could also have defenseman Jon Klemm back on the ice for tonight's tilt. Klemm has been sidelined the last 11 games with a hairline fracture in his right hand and will be a game time decision.
The Blackhawks, who are 12-5-3-1 at home this season, sit in third place in the Central Division, eight points back of the front-running Detroit Red Wings. Chicago will head to Detroit following the game for a Monday contest.
Chicago is unbeaten in the two games this season with the Predators (1-0-1), but is just 3-5-1 in the last nine on its own ice versus Nashville.
goalie info
Jocelyn Thibault, Chicago Blackhawks - Thibault is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Predators. It is possible that the Hawks will decide to instead play backup Michael Leighton so Thibault can be well rested for Monday's game against the Red Wings, however, Thibault is one of the busiest and more durable goalies in the league so back-to-back starts for him is not out of the question.
Tomas Vokoun, Nashville Predators - Vokoun is the probable starter for Sunday's game against the Blackhawks, though there is a small chance that the Predators will instead give backup Jan Lasak the start since Vokoun played on Saturday.
player info
Kimmo Timonen, Nashville Predators - Timonen will miss two to three games due to a blood clot in his leg, reports the Nashville Tennessean.
Eric Daze, Chicago Blackhawks - According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Daze may return to the lineup on Sunday against the Predators. He practiced on Saturday and looked good, feeling no pain in his surgically repaired back. A final decision on his availability will be made after the morning skate.
