Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Discipline is key to beating Predators

Chicago Blackhawks (2-4-1, 5 pts) vs Nashville Predators (1-5-0, 2 pts)
7:30 pm CT – United Center
TV: ESPN+/Hulu (Buccigross/Mleczko/Kaplan
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray), 1200 AM LMN (Esparza/Moreno)

The Chicago Blackhawks will cap off their four-game homestand by hosting the new-look Nashville Predators tonight. They are looking to finish with a split after back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks. The Predators finally picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday by beating the Boston Bruins 4-0.

The Predators are first in the league in shots on goal per game but 28^th in goals per game. It’s only a matter of time before they get their offense humming. The same could be said about Blackhawks’ star Connor Bedard, who has one goal on 27 shots this season. Which one will bust on tonight? Hopefully, it’s No. 98.

Philipp Kurashev will return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He scored a goal in his last game against Nashville, so look for him to make an impact. Taylor Hall, who picked up his 700^th career point against the Canucks, has nine goals and 24 points in 26 career games against the Predators. Petr Mrazek will look to bounce back tonight after giving up six goals to the Canucks on 30 shots. He’s enjoyed playing against Nashville in his career, going 10-4-0 with a .920 save percentage (SV%), 2.44 goals-against average (GAA), and one shutout.

Season Series

10/25 vs NSH
1/16 @ NSH
2/7 vs NSH
3/8 @ NSH

Quotables 

“It’s not the best news you can get, but it’s back to work. We watched some things I could improve. I know I didn’t play my best. Those are the things I have in mind now, and I will show I can be better.”

Kurashev on being scratched versus Vancouver.

“Discipline tonight for sure, staying out of the box. They’re going to be dangerous shooters on the power play with Stamkos and Marchessault, along with their normal dangerous players like O’Reilly, Josi, and Forsberg, as the first unit. Very dangerous. So not only 5-on-5, we have to be disciplined in our play, but staying out of the box will be key.”

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson on tonight’s gameplan.

“When we play our best, it’s territorial, it’s in your face, and we have the puck… Now, this group’s never been complacent. We’ve always got to keep building our game, and tomorrow’s another great opportunity.” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette.

Predators head coach Andrew Brunette.

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Teuvo Teravainen/Nick Foligno (3)
A-Connor Bedard/Seth Jones (6)
P-Teravainen/Bedard/Jones (7)
PPG-Teravainen/Tyler Bertuzzi (2)
SOG-Bedard (25)
PIM-Pat Maroon (14)

Predators Team Leaders

G-Thomas Novak (3)
A-Roman Josi (5)
P-Filip Forsberg/Ryan O’Reilly (6)
PPG-Forsberg/O’Reilly/Jonathan Marchessault/Steven Stamkos (1)
SOG-Forsberg/Josi (26)
PIM-Luke Schenn (7)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.57 (25^th)
GA/G-3.43 (21^st)
PP%-27.3 (8^th)
PK%-78.9 (13^th)
SOG/G-28.9 (16^th)
SA/G-28.7 (14^th)
FO%-47.9 (22^nd)
PIM/G-8:08 (12^th)

Predators Team Stats

GF/G-2.33 (28^th)
GA/G-3.83 (26^th)
PP%-18.2 (19^th)
PK%-89.5 (3^rd)
SOG/G-36.5 (1^st)
SA/G-28.3 (11^th)
FO%-55.9 (2^nd)
PIM/G-8:40 (15^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Nick Foligno-Connor Bedard-Teuvo Teravainen
Taylor Hall- Philipp Kurashev-Tyler Bertuzzi
Ilya Mikheyev-Jason Dickinson-Ryan Donato
Pat Maroon-Lukas Reichel-Craig Smith

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Seth Jones
Wyatt Kaiser-Connor Murphy
Nolan Allan-T.J. Brodie

Scratched:
D-Isaak Phillips, F- Andreas Athanasiou, F-Joey Anderson

Injured:
D-Alec Martinez (groin), G-Laurent Brossoit (knee)

Predators Probable Lines

Forwards
Filip Forsberg-Ryan O’Reilly-Gustav Nyquist
Steven Stamkos-Colton Sissons-Jonathan Marchessault
Mark Jankowski-Tommy Novak-Luke Evangelista
Zachary L’Heureux-Michael McCarron-Cole Smith

Defensemen
Brady Skjei-Roman Josi
Jeremy Lauzon-Alexandre Carrier
Mac Del Gaizo-Luke Schenn

Scratched
F-Jusso Parssinen, F-Philp Tomasino, D-Dante Fabbro

Injured
D-Spencer Stastney (personal), F-Austin Roest (undisclosed)

Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrazek (2-3-0, .887 SV%, 3.24 GAA, 0 SO) vs Jusse Saros (1-4-0, .903 SV%, 2.89 GAA, 1 SO)

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