Nashville Predators play host to Chicago Blackhawks in final of six-game match
Defending champions Chicago Blackhawks will be in actions as they travel to Nashville to face the Predators. This will be the sixth and final meeting between the two sides with the Hawks currently leading the series 3-2.
The Hawks have won the two games played on their home after shootout. The last game between the two sides took place on the 16th of January 2010, which saw the Hawks come up with dominating performance and winning the game 6-3 in the end.
Both the teams are caught in the midst of a race for the play-offs which is tight in the Western Conference. The fourth to 12th placed teams in the Conference are separated by ten points. Such close are things in the Western Conference. This would be the
last game between the two sides which makes this game all the more exciting and entertaining as the Hawks look to win the series while the Predators look to level it.
The Hawks have had a very uncertain start to the season. They came up with wins and losses alternately, which has resulted in them fighting to stay in the play-offs now. However, if the defending champions are looking for a play-off spot, they need to get
into the consistency shoes and notch up a few wins on regular basis.
The Hawks are starting to take the initiative and are just one win away from making it into the cut. But the question after this would be if they can maintain the spot, given the fact that they have been very inconsistent throughout the season so far. The
Hawks have won the last three of their four games and suffered just one loss in regulation time.
Both the teams have played 60 games during the season so far out which the Hawks have won 31 games in regulation time and six games in overtime to score a total of 68 points. On the other hand, the Predators have won 31 games in regulation time and eight
games in overtime to score 70 points.
The Predators were expected to go through the play-offs easily from the Western Conference. However, they have been very disappointing during the past few games, which have put their play-off spot in doubt. The fact that they are caught up in a battle where
teams from the fifth to 11th spots are separated by just two points makes things even tougher as we go into the final third of the regular season.
Ahead of the game, the Predators will be pleased with their star player Martin Erat for scoring eight points in the last six games. Predators goalkeeper Pekka Renne is also in good form as he has allowed only seven goals in the last 120 minutes that he has
played.
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