Nashville Predators @ Chicago Blackhawks: Game Day Preview

by Chris Burton on Dec 22, 2010 6:00 AM EST in Nashville Predators Game Previews

[NHL.com] - [SB Nation] - [Second City Hockey]

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The Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators tonight at the United Center, in what presents a bit of a litmus test for both squads over a third of the way into the season. Western Conference quarterfinal opponents last year, division rivals, and playoff contenders, there's plenty of bad blood between the Hawks and Preds.

Patric Hornqvist, Cody Franson, and Pekka Rinne will all suit up tonight for Nashville, so in that way, this game is already an encouragement to fans. Even still, though, there are an important two points at stake, so follow after the jump for more.

Lineups

Nashville

Pekka Rinne has made the trip, but we're not yet sure who'll be in net tonight.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Pekka Rinne 2010 - Anders Lindback	19 16	1086 819	8 9	7 2		43 31	2.38 2.27	527 412	484 381	.918 .925	3 2

MIN

EGA

GAA

SV%

2010 - Pekka Rinne

2010 - Anders Lindback

1086

819

2.38

2.27

527

412

484

381

.918

.925

Matthew Lombardi and David Legwand will be the only two players out for Nashville tonight.

Forwards

Sullivan (A) - O'Reilly - Wilson

Kostitsyn - Goc - Erat

Dumont - Smithson - Ward

Tootoo - Spaling - Hornqvist

Defense

Suter (A) - Weber (C)

Klein - Bouillon

Franson - O'Brien

Chicago

The Hawks, much like the Predators, have been rolling two goalies, but for performance reasons.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Corey Crawford 2010 - Marty Turco	17 20	981 1136	10 8	6 8		39 58	2.39 3.06	453 558	414 500	.914 .896	0 1

MIN

EGA

GAA

SV%

2010 - Corey Crawford

2010 - Marty Turco

981

1136

2.39

3.06

453

558

414

500

.914

.896

Chicago, thankfully, will be without star forwards Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane, but Viktor Stalberg
returns after a layoff.

Forwards

Sharp (A) - Toews (C) - Brouwer

Bickell - Bolland - Pisani

Kopecky - Johnson - Skille

Scott - Dowell - Stalberg

Defense

Keith (A) - Seabrook

Campbell - Hjalmarsson

Cullimore - Boynton

Thoughts

Nashville's 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, and with that success has come a slightly improved power play, particularly against New Jersey. The Blackhawks only kill off 79% of their penalties, and you have to think that a power play goal tonight for either side would go a long way to deciding the game's winner.
It seems old hat by now, but the healthier Ryan Suter has gotten, the better Shea Weber has played. The pair is tilting the ice drastically in the Predators' favor, Suter has a six game point streak going, and Weber now has more points than both Chris Pronger and Mike Green, to name two. With the Hawks' depth suffering, six and twenty could have a big night.
Speaking of Chicago's depth (or lack thereof), it'll be important for the Preds' bottom six to dominate against the likes of converted defensemen John Scott and Jordan Hendry.
Tonight, quite simply, is an important test for both teams. The Blackhawks are only one point behind Nashville, but have played three more games. The Predators are back to almost full-strength, while Chicago will be missing two of their most important players. If there was ever a time to pick up two points against a division rival, this was it.

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Comments

Can't Stand the BoooooHawks!!

A few things that really just get under my skin about them and their fans are as follows:
1. How they feel like they are the best team in hockey ever after winning their 1st cup in like 60 years. And how they did not have fans till they won the cup, Now everyone who ever was in Chicago is a Hawks fan!
2. That awful goal song! They sound like a bunch of DeeDee Dees, when the sing Duh duh duh duh!
3. How in the world can you play as dirty as they do and not get something called. We put a toe of a blade and get a delay of game by our goalie not once but twice in a game.

Just venting! LET’S GO PREDS!!!!

by predsfansince97 on Dec 22, 2010 8:31 AM EST reply actions

That awful goal song sounds like that awful wedding reception song – the Chicken Dance.

However, both are better than that awful ~~football~~ UT song – Rocky Top

by Griz-ATL on Dec 22, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

Whoa,Whoa, Whoa

Lets lay off of Rocky Top. That is an awesome song. I love it.

by ablairnash on Dec 22, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

I like the hawks goal celebration song. At least that organization let the fans pick the song instead of trying to force "smashville"" upon them…
And I hate the new song they play after we win, hate it. It also puts the team at center ice for the “rock and roll part 2” when everyone is saying “you suck”. So it appears we are all saying “you suck” to our team instead of the visitors, who by that time, are off the ice. Duh! Who is the PR genius for that one? Given, this is only one or two mistakes they have made…

by cisar on Dec 22, 2010 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

I couldn't agree more with points (1) and (3), but I really, really like their goal song.

I think it’s fun.

by LuvthePreds on Dec 22, 2010 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed with the Fratellis song.

I have most of those blokes albums… they rock!

Chelsea Dagger is awesome…

And FYI – the fans did NOT pick the song, but management did… and the fans didn’t respond very well in the beginning… but started to enjoy it and join in the chants when they started their winning ways.

by cherney on Dec 22, 2010 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

"And how they did not have fans till they won the cup,"

123 consecutive sellouts at the United Center. Including tonight. I didn’t realize they’ve played 123 home games since the big shiny silver thing came to the city.

Tremendously tremendous!

Beautius J. Beautius!

by allyouyounghockeyplayersoutthere on Dec 22, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

If my math serves me right

That would carry to the 2007-08 season @41 Home games a year.

ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
I Love learning our founding history.
Second City Hockey, Seriously dude, we do talk about hockey sometimes!

by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Dec 22, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds about right.

I’m not entirely sure it’s including all those home playoff games, either.
It makes sense that it started once Dollar Bill died and the team became worth watching.

Tremendously tremendous!

Beautius J. Beautius!

by allyouyounghockeyplayersoutthere on Dec 22, 2010 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

You mean by not trading away the Good players

and not resigning the others, and taking huge 2.7 dumps on the fans whenever he had the chance.

Funny how that works huh

ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
I Love learning our founding history.
Second City Hockey, Seriously dude, we do talk about hockey sometimes!

by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Dec 22, 2010 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

Best part is:

123 consecutive sellouts…and most, if not all (can’t remember when Rocky started it), have been televised, shooting big giant holes in Dollar Bill’s blackout theory.

Tremendously tremendous!

Beautius J. Beautius!

by allyouyounghockeyplayersoutthere on Dec 22, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

If remember it started that first season after he assumed room temp.

The Hawks got a partial TV Contract for most of the games the rest of the year in like only 2 weeks, and the UC started filling up immediately, when Rocky took over and he brought in McDonough from the Cubs (marketing genius looking at what he did with both organizations)

ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
I Love learning our founding history.
Second City Hockey, Seriously dude, we do talk about hockey sometimes!

by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Dec 22, 2010 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

from '85-89...

during my younger years, and before moving to Houston, TX, the Hawks did mighty fine filling up the old Chicago Stadium. I don’t remember many empty seats. Things got a bit thin after fans started bolting due to Wirtz’s terrible fan apathy and even worse player dealings, but they weren’t worse than Nashville’s leaner years.

In any regard, we should all root for more NHL fans, not fewer.

by aeroplane on Dec 22, 2010 6:09 PM EST up reply actions

Just because I like you guys so much, and you are fun to chat with

A peace offering for you!

ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
I Love learning our founding history.
Second City Hockey, Seriously dude, we do talk about hockey sometimes!

by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Dec 22, 2010 5:35 PM EST up reply actions

It was only 49 years without Lord Stanley … they’ve won the fewest cups of any of the Original Six …. stores that used to have absolutely no Hawks gear are now overflowing (to include Chicagoland Best Buys) and most of the people wearing the gear can’t name more than four current or past Hawks ….

Can’t wait to go tonight, sing ILIILI multiple times (accompanied by the mp3 version on my phone) and take my obligatory beer shower for rooting for the better team and organization.

GO PREDS!!!!

by 101st on Dec 22, 2010 8:39 AM EST reply actions

san jose trumps

Bandwagon fans are everywhere, a reality that will not change. People like winners.
I don’t care for anyone not wearing our colors, but San Jose I particularly dislike more than the Blackhawks. (Exception being last years first round, as it still makes me sick).
We have more bad history w the Sharks.

by dolphinfantn on Dec 22, 2010 8:59 AM EST via mobile reply actions

WHY?

Why do we still have that Tim McGraw song? It’s a little outdated. We should get something new….like some Disturbed-Down with the Sickness! Pep it up a little! Or atleast remix ILIILI……..Its getting a lil lame.

by SinBinPred on Dec 22, 2010 3:39 PM EST reply actions

I hear ya

I don’t mind ILIILI myself, but I really don’t like the Gary Glitter music or the “You Suck” chants, which especially don’t make sense after a home win, and the only team standing on the ice is the Preds.

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Preds (be sure to check out my discount offer on Nashville Predators tickets). Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker, or join our legions on Facebook at Facebook.com/OnTheForecheck.

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 22, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

Good Evening all

How is it going?

ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII Not a suggestion, but an obligation.
I Love learning our founding history.
Second City Hockey, Seriously dude, we do talk about hockey sometimes!

by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Dec 22, 2010 5:16 PM EST reply actions

OH HAI.

Tremendously tremendous!

Beautius J. Beautius!

by allyouyounghockeyplayersoutthere on Dec 22, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

Allo buddy!

EASports' NHL 11 doesn't suck; in fact, it's really damn good! Wait, what!?
Go Predators!!!

by Poiju on Dec 22, 2010 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

Blackhawks fans are bandwagoners?

Never heard that before…

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and mention that Stalberg is out for tonight, which means you’ll see Scott-Johnson-Hendry as your fourth line and Kopecky-Dowell-Skille as your third line for the ’Hawks.

"I have only space enough to add: against the assault of desperate pandas nothing can stand."
-ChicoMaki (channeling Mark Twain)

by HungryHungryPanda on Dec 22, 2010 5:38 PM EST reply actions