PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (ROGERS' 10* NHL!) >> 32-20-3 Last 10 Days!
(NHL) Nashville vs. Chicago,
Money Line: -163.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -163.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 50-23-9 Chicago Blackhawks led the Western Conference with 109 points. Chicago has won three Stanley Cup championships over the previous six seasons and two of those runs to the title started with a first-round playoff win over the Nashville Predators. Is it an omen that the Blackhawks open the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs against the 41-29-12 Nashville Predators? The Predators are in the playoffs for the third straight season and just last season, it was the Predators, not the Blackhawks, who advanced to the Western Conference finals, although they lost to the San Jose Sharks.
Nashville: The Predators may start the series short-handed. Forwards Colin Wilson and Calle Jarnkrok missed Wednesday's Predators practice with lower-body injuries and their status for Game 1 is uncertain. Both been significant contributors to Nashville's offense. Their absence would impact the depth of a team that already had its hands full even at full strength. It may be up to goalie Pekka Rinne to lead the way for Nashville. His season numbers (31-19-9, 2.42 GAA & .918 SP) are similar to his Chicago counter part Corey Crawford (32-18-4, 2.55 GAA & .918 SP) and he comes in playing well, allowing just 14 goals over his last nine starts.
Chicago: The Blackhawks won 17 of 20 games shortly after the All-Star break and coasted to the No. 1 seed in the West, despite dropping their last four. Six players, led by captain Jonathan Toews and reigning Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane, remain from the core that captured Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Chicago already features plenty of offensive firepower (2.93 GPG ranks 9th) and will get another boost with the return of 22-goal scorer Artem Anisimov, who gets back to the lineup after a one-month absence and will center Kane and Artemi Panarin, who combined for 65 goals this season. Kane finished tied with Sidney Crosby for second in the league with 89 points. Goalie Corey Crawford has now posted at least 32 wins in each of the past four seasons.
The pick: Chicago amassed 18 goals in winning the last four meetings between the clubs this season. Nashville captain Mike Fisher knows this series will be a challenge. "I think facing a team like Chicago first, it's going to have to bring the best out of us as a group," he said. "We know they're a great hockey team and they finished first for a reason, so I think we're going to prepare. We know we've got to be at our best." However, Nashville's best may not be good enough. Make Chicago a 10* play.
Nashville: The Predators may start the series short-handed. Forwards Colin Wilson and Calle Jarnkrok missed Wednesday's Predators practice with lower-body injuries and their status for Game 1 is uncertain. Both been significant contributors to Nashville's offense. Their absence would impact the depth of a team that already had its hands full even at full strength. It may be up to goalie Pekka Rinne to lead the way for Nashville. His season numbers (31-19-9, 2.42 GAA & .918 SP) are similar to his Chicago counter part Corey Crawford (32-18-4, 2.55 GAA & .918 SP) and he comes in playing well, allowing just 14 goals over his last nine starts.
Chicago: The Blackhawks won 17 of 20 games shortly after the All-Star break and coasted to the No. 1 seed in the West, despite dropping their last four. Six players, led by captain Jonathan Toews and reigning Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane, remain from the core that captured Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Chicago already features plenty of offensive firepower (2.93 GPG ranks 9th) and will get another boost with the return of 22-goal scorer Artem Anisimov, who gets back to the lineup after a one-month absence and will center Kane and Artemi Panarin, who combined for 65 goals this season. Kane finished tied with Sidney Crosby for second in the league with 89 points. Goalie Corey Crawford has now posted at least 32 wins in each of the past four seasons.
The pick: Chicago amassed 18 goals in winning the last four meetings between the clubs this season. Nashville captain Mike Fisher knows this series will be a challenge. "I think facing a team like Chicago first, it's going to have to bring the best out of us as a group," he said. "We know they're a great hockey team and they finished first for a reason, so I think we're going to prepare. We know we've got to be at our best." However, Nashville's best may not be good enough. Make Chicago a 10* play.
