Round 1Western Conference playoffsThe BreakdownOffense
The Blackhawks boast one of the top offenses in the league and feature six players ? Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg ? with at least 20 goals during the regular season, led by Kane's 30. They were third in the NHL in scoring with 3.20 goals per game.
The Predators were 18th in the league at 2.65 per game and had two players ? Patric Hornqvist and Martin Erat ? with more than 20 goals, including Hornqvist's 30. Ex-Hawk Steve Sullivan, plagued by a back injury that caused him to miss almost two years before returning early in 2009, played in all 82 games this season and had 17 goals and 34 assists.
Edge: Blackhawks
Defense
Both teams are loaded with top blueliners. For the Hawks, Duncan Keith is a Norris Trophy candidate who is adept at both ends of the ice and Brent Seabrook is a solid stay-at-home defender. Brian Campbell, who has been sidelined since March 14 with an injury, could return late in the series to provide a boost. The Hawks were tied for fifth in goals allowed at 2.48 per game.
The Predators' Shea Weber is a top defenseman and is joined by Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis to form an outstanding group that will try to clog up the middle and not allow the Hawks many quality scoring chances. Nashville allowed 2.70 goals per game, 14th in the NHL.
Edge: Even.
Goaltending
The Hawks' Antti Niemi and the Preds' Pekka Rinne are both Finnish netminders who will be seeing their first NHL postseason action. Niemi seized the Hawks' No. 1 job down the stretch from Cristobal Huet and finished the season 26-7-4 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
Rinne won the starting job over Dan Ellis and was 32-16-5 and 2.53 goals-against and .911 save percentage. Both Niemi and Rinne had seven shutouts on the season.
Edge: Even.
Special teams
The Hawks' power play showed signs of life during the last few games of the regular season but struggled previously and finished at 17.7 percent, 16th in the league. Nashville was even worse with a man advantage at 16.4 percent, which ranked 24th.
Killing penalties was the Hawks' strong suit as they negated 85.3 percent of them (fourth in the NHL) and also led the league with 13 short-handed goals. The Predators were 28th at 77.1 percent efficiency.
Edge: Blackhawks.
Probable lines
Predators forwards
Wilson ? Arnott ? Erat
Sullivan ? Goc ? Hornqvist
Dumont ? Legwand ? Ward
Smithson ? Boyd ? Tootoo
Predators defensemen
Suter ? Weber
Hamhuis ? Franson
Bouillon ? Klein
Predators goaltender
Rinne
Injuries: Hornqvist (upper body) is probable and Grebeshkov (groin) is questionable for Game 1.
Blackhawks forwards
Sharp ? Toews ? Hossa
Brouwer ? Bolland ? Kane
Ladd ? Madden ? Versteeg
Eager ? Fraser ? Kopecky
Blackhawks defensemen
Byfuglien ? Keith
Seabrook ? Hjalmarsson
Sopel ? Hendry
Blackhawks goaltender
Niemi
Injuries: Campbell (rib, collarbone), Johnsson (concussion) are out for Game 1.
The Blackhawks boast one of the top offenses in the league and feature six players ? Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg ? with at least 20 goals during the regular season, led by Kane's 30. They were third in the NHL in scoring with 3.20 goals per game.
The Predators were 18th in the league at 2.65 per game and had two players ? Patric Hornqvist and Martin Erat ? with more than 20 goals, including Hornqvist's 30. Ex-Hawk Steve Sullivan, plagued by a back injury that caused him to miss almost two years before returning early in 2009, played in all 82 games this season and had 17 goals and 34 assists.
Edge: Blackhawks
Defense
Both teams are loaded with top blueliners. For the Hawks, Duncan Keith is a Norris Trophy candidate who is adept at both ends of the ice and Brent Seabrook is a solid stay-at-home defender. Brian Campbell, who has been sidelined since March 14 with an injury, could return late in the series to provide a boost. The Hawks were tied for fifth in goals allowed at 2.48 per game.
The Predators' Shea Weber is a top defenseman and is joined by Ryan Suter and Dan Hamhuis to form an outstanding group that will try to clog up the middle and not allow the Hawks many quality scoring chances. Nashville allowed 2.70 goals per game, 14th in the NHL.
Edge: Even.
Goaltending
The Hawks' Antti Niemi and the Preds' Pekka Rinne are both Finnish netminders who will be seeing their first NHL postseason action. Niemi seized the Hawks' No. 1 job down the stretch from Cristobal Huet and finished the season 26-7-4 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
Rinne won the starting job over Dan Ellis and was 32-16-5 and 2.53 goals-against and .911 save percentage. Both Niemi and Rinne had seven shutouts on the season.
Edge: Even.
Special teams
The Hawks' power play showed signs of life during the last few games of the regular season but struggled previously and finished at 17.7 percent, 16th in the league. Nashville was even worse with a man advantage at 16.4 percent, which ranked 24th.
Killing penalties was the Hawks' strong suit as they negated 85.3 percent of them (fourth in the NHL) and also led the league with 13 short-handed goals. The Predators were 28th at 77.1 percent efficiency.
Edge: Blackhawks.
Probable lines
Predators forwards
Wilson ? Arnott ? Erat
Sullivan ? Goc ? Hornqvist
Dumont ? Legwand ? Ward
Smithson ? Boyd ? Tootoo
Predators defensemen
Suter ? Weber
Hamhuis ? Franson
Bouillon ? Klein
Predators goaltender
Rinne
Injuries: Hornqvist (upper body) is probable and Grebeshkov (groin) is questionable for Game 1.
Blackhawks forwards
Sharp ? Toews ? Hossa
Brouwer ? Bolland ? Kane
Ladd ? Madden ? Versteeg
Eager ? Fraser ? Kopecky
Blackhawks defensemen
Byfuglien ? Keith
Seabrook ? Hjalmarsson
Sopel ? Hendry
Blackhawks goaltender
Niemi
Injuries: Campbell (rib, collarbone), Johnsson (concussion) are out for Game 1.
