Community Picks: Nashville Predators 0% vs Chicago Blackhawks 0%

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports When the Nashville Predators met the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, they weren’t prepared. Not yet. Chicago was already well-versed in playoff success by that point Continue to Article

April 13, 2017 10:00:am EST

Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg helped power Nashville into the playoffs with a dazzling finish to the season. Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin piled up points for Chicago down the stretch, and Artem Anisimov is set to return from a left leg injury. Two of the NHL's most dangerous lines face off when the Predators take on the Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night in Chicago. Continue to Article

April 12, 2017 5:37:pm EST

Jordin Tootoo was part of that Nashville Predators-Blackhawks series in 2010. Ask him what he remembers from those six games, and he gives a what-do-you-think smile. "Marian Hossa taking a five-minute major, coming out of the penalty box and scoring the OT winner," Tootoo said with a laugh. "Basically sums it up." Sure, that memory ranks high for many regardless of allegiance. But that series was also the start of a great, intense rivalry between the two teams, something that will resume on Thursday. "Lot of emotions. Lot of battles, and that's what playoff hockey is all about. I think over the years, you create that energy and I think every guy wants to be a part of something special," he said. Continue to Article

April 12, 2017 5:03:pm EST

Niklas Hjalmarsson was understandably happy for two reasons. Hjalmarsson practiced with the Blackhawks the last two days as the team preps for Game 1 against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Hjalmarsson is like so many of his teammates: he hates missing games. Continue to Article

April 12, 2017 3:15:pm EST