Predators at Blackhawks
With the Central Division and Western Conference titles already wrapped up, the Chicago Blackhawks continue their quest for the Presidents' Trophy when they host the disappointing Nashville Predators on Friday. Chicago, which has won six straight contests, has a four-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the race for the league's regular-season crown with a game in hand. The Blackhawks hope to complete a sweep of the season series with their division rivals as they won each of the first four meetings, including two via shutout.
Nashville has been idle since Monday, when it suffered a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks that officially eliminated it from postseason contention. The Predators enter Friday's game having lost seven in a row and owning a 1-8-2 record over their last 11 contests. The club has scored two goals or fewer in all but one game during its skid.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, SportSouth (Nashville), CSN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (15-21-8): Captain Shea Weber's next goal will be his 108th, which will give him sole possession of third place on the franchise list. The defenseman currently is tied for the spot with Jason Arnott. Weber is fourth on the club's all-time scoring list with 286 points -15 behind blue-liner Kimmo Timonen for third place. Pekka Rinne is tied with Vancouver's Cory Schneider and Phoenix's Mike Smith for the league lead in shutouts with five.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (33-5-4): Ray Emery will be unavailable Friday due to a back injury. The veteran has won four straight starts since suffering his only loss in 17 decisions on March 29 against the Anaheim Ducks. To take Emery's place and serve as Corey Crawford's backup, Chicago recalled Carter Hutton from Rockford of the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old Hutton, who has yet to make his NHL debut, is 26-22-1 with two shutouts and a 2.72 goals-against average in 51 games with Rockford this season.
OVERTIME
1. The Blackhawks have won five straight games in the all-time series.
2. Nashville has dropped five of its last seven visits to Chicago.
3. Predators LW Rich Clune is tied with Tampa Bay's B.J. Crombeen for the league lead in fighting majors with 13 apiece.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Predators 1