Predators at Blackhawks
THE STORY: The Chicago Blackhawks will begin life without Duncan Keith on Sunday when they vie for their sixth straight win against the visiting Central Division rival Nashville Predators. Keith was suspended five games by the NHL after the 2010 Norris Trophy winner elbowed Vancouver's Daniel Sedin in the head during Wednesday's physical contest. Nashville, which sits one point behind fourth-place Detroit, is just two points ahead of Chicago.
TV: 7:30 p.m., NBCS, TSN2
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (43-24-8): Pekka Rinne turned aside 24 shots as Nashville snapped a modest two-game losing skid with a 3-1 victory over Winnipeg on Saturday. The 29-year-old Finn, who collected his 40th win, has yielded just five goals in his last three games versus Chicago – all victories. Alexander Radulov set up Matt Halischuk for the game's first goal on Saturday and now has two points in as many games since returning from the Kontinental Hockey League.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (42-25-8): With Wednesday's 2-1 overtime victory over Vancouver, Joel Quenneville's club improved to 13-4-1 since dropping nine straight contests. Rookie Andrew Shaw netted the overtime winner for his fourth goal in three games. Although he has yet to score in three matches versus Nashville, Shaw has set up a pair of tallies. Patrick Kane recorded his fifth straight 20-goal season of his young career by scoring for the seventh time in 12 games.
OVERTIME:
1. Nashville is doing its best to steer clear of the penalty box. The Predators have been shorthanded on just one occasion in each of their last four contests.
2. Corey Crawford has started all five games of the Blackhawks' winning streak, but dropped both ends of a home-and-home series against Nashville in late January.