The Central Division clash between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators resumes this Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena with the surprising Predators holding a 3-0 series lead in this best-of-seven affair. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and Game 4 will be broadcast nationally on NBS Sports Network.
Chicago at Nashville Game Overview
Chicago may have opened this series as a heavy favorite to win the Western Conference title, but it will need a win on Thursday night just to keep this opening round series alive after losing the first three games. Monday’s 3-2 loss in overtime as a +102 road underdog may have cut the deepest after opening up a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. The Blackhawks have now lost their last seven games in a row with the total staying UNDER or ending as a PUSH in seven of their last eight outings.
The fact that Chicago was ranked ninth in the NHL in scoring with an average of 2.9 goals per game has had very little bearing on this series with a combined two goals in the first three games. After getting shutout in the first two meetings against their Central Division foes, the Blackhawks did manage to get a pair of goals in Game 3 from Dennis Rasmussen and Patrick Kane. Corey Crawford has gone the distance in goal and his save percentage in this series is a shaky .908.
Give all the credit in the world to Nashville for carving out this 3-0 series lead. The Predators took the early lead with a hard fought 1-0 victory in Game 1 as +143 road underdogs and they made a statement in Game 2 by blanking Chicago again in a 5-0 romp as +161 underdogs on the road. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in 10 of their last 11 games. With Monday’s win, Nashville is 25-9-8 on its home ice this season.
Center Ryan Johansen led the Predators in total points (61) in the regular season and he has led the way in this series with a goal and four assists. Viktor Arvidsson was the top goal scorer with 47, but the hot hand in this series belongs to both Filip Forsberg and Kevin Fiala with two goals apiece. Forsberg scored both of his goals in the third period of Game 3 and Fiala added the game winner in overtime. A great deal of credit also has to go to goalie Pekka Rinne with a stellar 0.61 goals-against average in this series.
Chicago at Nashville Game Betting Trends
- The Blackhawks are 10-4 in their last 14 Thursday games and they are 4-1 in their last five games playing on two day’s rest. The total has stayed UNDER in their last five games played on Thursday.
- The Predators are 9-3 in their last 12 home games and they are 20-8 in their last 28 Western Conference games. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in their last four games at home.
- Head-to-head in this matchup, Chicago has the 4-1 edge in the regular season series before losing the first three games of this playoff series. The total has gone 3-1-4 in the eight games.
