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NASHVILLE |
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| Western Conference Quarterfinals - Best of 7 - Game 5 - CHI Leads 3-1 | |
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| 77 | CHICAGO | -105 | Ov 5,-135 | -105 | Ov 5,-140 | | 78 | NASHVILLE | -115 | Un 5,+115 | -115 | Un 5,+120 |
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| All Games | 51-35-0 | -7.4 | 51-35 | -7.4 | 29-45 | 2.8 | 34.0 | 2.3 | 30.9 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 25-18-0 | +2 | 25-18 | +2 | 13-23 | 2.7 | 30.3 | 2.4 | 29.9 | | Last 5 Games | 3-2-0 | +0.9 | 3-2 | +0.9 | 3-1 | 3.0 | 35.2 | 3.2 | 40.4 | | Playoff Games | 3-1-0 | +2 | 3-1 | +2 | 3-1 | 3.2 | 36.5 | 3.2 | 44.5 | | vs. Division | 18-15-0 | -7.4 | 18-15 | -7.4 | 14-14 | 2.7 | 33.7 | 2.7 | 32.4 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 86 | 242 | 77 | 67 | 84 | 14 | 21 | 2923 | 8.3% | 275 | 48 | 17.5% | 403 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 43 | 118 | 40 | 32 | 40 | 6 | 13 | 1305 | 9.0% | 137 | 27 | 19.7% | 199 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 176 | 8.5% | 15 | 2 | 13.3% | 27 | | Team Stats (Playoffs) | 4 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 146 | 8.9% | 15 | 2 | 13.3% | 23 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 33 | 88 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 7 | 7 | 1111 | 7.9% | 92 | 16 | 17.4% | 149 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 202 | 68 | 64 | 64 | 6 | 11 | 2655 | 7.6% | 226 | 38 | 16.8% | 331 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | | 105 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 1 | 5 | 1286 | 8.2% | 127 | 24 | 18.9% | 173 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 202 | 7.9% | 17 | 5 | 29.4% | 24 | | Stats Against (Playoffs) | | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 7.3% | 15 | 3 | 20.0% | 18 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 88 | 35 | 26 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 1068 | 8.2% | 95 | 20 | 21.1% | 148 |
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| CORY CRAWFORD (All Games) | 59 | 59 | 1708 | 1573 | 92.1% | 2 | 33-26 | -12.6 | 33-26-0 | -11 | 22-32 | | CORY CRAWFORD (Road Games) | 30 | 30 | 862 | 795 | 92.2% | 2 | 19-11 | +4.6 | 19-11-0 | +4 | 10-17 | | CORY CRAWFORD (vs. Division) | 25 | 25 | 737 | 671 | 91.0% | 2 | 13-12 | -8.9 | 13-12-0 | -7 | 12-12 | | CORY CRAWFORD (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 102 | 89 | 87.3% | 0 | 1-3 | -2.4 | 1-3-0 | -3 | 2-2 | | CORY CRAWFORD (Playoff Games) | 2 | 2 | 47 | 38 | 80.9% | 0 | 1-1 | +0.1 | 1-1-0 | 0 | 2-0 | | SCOTT DARLING (All Games) | 17 | 15 | 550 | 519 | 94.4% | 1 | 11-4 | +6.4 | 11-4-0 | +6 | 3-8 | | SCOTT DARLING (Road Games) | 10 | 9 | 322 | 300 | 93.2% | 1 | 6-3 | +2.9 | 6-3-0 | +3 | 2-5 | | SCOTT DARLING (vs. Division) | 5 | 4 | 188 | 180 | 95.7% | 0 | 3-1 | +1.9 | 3-1-0 | +2 | 1-2 | | SCOTT DARLING (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 3 | 155 | 148 | 95.5% | 0 | 2-1 | +0.8 | 2-1-0 | +1 | 1-1 | | SCOTT DARLING (Playoff Games) | 3 | 2 | 131 | 127 | 96.9% | 0 | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0-0 | +2 | 1-1 | | ANTTI RAANTA (All Games) | 14 | 12 | 389 | 364 | 93.6% | 3 | 7-5 | -1.2 | 7-5-0 | -1 | 4-5 | | ANTTI RAANTA (Road Games) | 4 | 4 | 98 | 87 | 88.8% | 1 | 0-4 | -5.6 | 0-4-0 | -5 | 1-1 | | ANTTI RAANTA (vs. Division) | 5 | 4 | 140 | 129 | 92.1% | 0 | 2-2 | -0.5 | 2-2-0 | 0 | 1-0 | | ANTTI RAANTA (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 3 | 100 | 94 | 94.0% | 1 | 1-2 | -2.6 | 1-2-0 | -3 | 1-2 | | ANTTI RAANTA (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
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| All Games | 48-38-0 | +2.4 | 48-38 | +2.4 | 35-38 | 2.8 | 32.5 | 2.6 | 28.6 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 29-14-0 | +7.8 | 29-14 | +7.8 | 19-15 | 3.0 | 33.3 | 2.5 | 27.7 | | Last 5 Games | 1-4-0 | -3.2 | 1-4 | -3.2 | 3-2 | 2.8 | 40.6 | 3.4 | 34.2 | | Playoff Games | 1-3-0 | -2.2 | 1-3 | -2.2 | 3-1 | 3.2 | 44.5 | 3.2 | 36.5 | | vs. Division | 16-17-0 | -4.6 | 16-17 | -4.6 | 13-15 | 2.7 | 32.9 | 2.7 | 29.2 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 86 | 245 | 72 | 74 | 85 | 14 | 11 | 2792 | 8.8% | 273 | 45 | 16.5% | 402 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 43 | 130 | 35 | 39 | 47 | 9 | 7 | 1434 | 9.1% | 135 | 21 | 15.6% | 209 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 6.9% | 17 | 3 | 17.6% | 20 | | Team Stats (Playoffs) | 4 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 7.3% | 15 | 3 | 20.0% | 18 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 33 | 90 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 1086 | 8.3% | 104 | 14 | 13.5% | 147 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 221 | 58 | 76 | 75 | 12 | 20 | 2463 | 9.0% | 249 | 47 | 18.9% | 374 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | | 106 | 24 | 41 | 36 | 5 | 8 | 1193 | 8.9% | 119 | 22 | 18.5% | 178 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 17 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 171 | 9.9% | 18 | 3 | 16.7% | 28 | | Stats Against (Playoffs) | | 13 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 146 | 8.9% | 15 | 2 | 13.3% | 23 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 89 | 25 | 33 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 962 | 9.3% | 93 | 13 | 14.0% | 144 |
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| CARTER HUTTON (All Games) | 18 | 17 | 450 | 406 | 90.2% | 0 | 6-11 | -5.5 | 6-11-0 | -5 | 8-8 | | CARTER HUTTON (Home Games) | 5 | 4 | 125 | 112 | 89.6% | 0 | 3-1 | +1.5 | 3-1-0 | +2 | 4-0 | | CARTER HUTTON (vs. Division) | 5 | 5 | 145 | 131 | 90.3% | 0 | 1-4 | -3 | 1-4-0 | -3 | 2-3 | | CARTER HUTTON (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 93 | 83 | 89.2% | 0 | 1-3 | -2.6 | 1-3-0 | -3 | 1-3 | | CARTER HUTTON (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | MAREK MAZANEC (All Games) | 2 | 1 | 47 | 43 | 91.5% | 1 | 0-1 | -1 | 0-1-0 | -1 | 0-1 | | MAREK MAZANEC (Home Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | MAREK MAZANEC (vs. Division) | 1 | 1 | 27 | 25 | 92.6% | 1 | 0-1 | -1 | 0-1-0 | -1 | 0-1 | | MAREK MAZANEC (Last 4 Games) | 2 | 1 | 47 | 43 | 91.5% | 1 | 0-1 | -1 | 0-1-0 | -1 | 0-1 | | MAREK MAZANEC (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | PEKKA RINNE (All Games) | 68 | 68 | 1953 | 1800 | 92.2% | 4 | 42-26 | +8.9 | 42-26-0 | +9 | 27-29 | | PEKKA RINNE (Home Games) | 39 | 39 | 1062 | 977 | 92.0% | 2 | 26-13 | +6.3 | 26-13-0 | +6 | 15-15 | | PEKKA RINNE (vs. Division) | 27 | 27 | 783 | 719 | 91.8% | 0 | 15-12 | -0.5 | 15-12-0 | -1 | 11-11 | | PEKKA RINNE (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 146 | 133 | 91.1% | 0 | 1-3 | -2.2 | 1-3-0 | -2 | 3-1 | | PEKKA RINNE (Playoff Games) | 4 | 4 | 146 | 133 | 91.1% | 0 | 1-3 | -2.2 | 1-3-0 | -2 | 3-1 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: CHICAGO 3.15, NASHVILLE 3.21 |
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| 3/27/2015 | COLUMBUS | 2-5 | L | 0, -235 | L | 5.5 un | O | | 3/29/2015 | at WINNIPEG | 4-3 | W | 0, -110 | W | 5 ov | O | | 3/30/2015 | LOS ANGELES | 4-1 | W | 0, +105 | W | 5 ov | P | | 4/2/2015 | VANCOUVER | 3-1 | W | 0, -165 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 4/3/2015 | at BUFFALO | 4-3 | W | 0, -300 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 4/5/2015 | ST LOUIS | 1-2 | L | 0, -155 | L | 5 ov | U | | 4/7/2015 | MINNESOTA | 1-2 | L | 0, -150 | L | 5 ev | U | | 4/9/2015 | at ST LOUIS | 1-2 | L | 0, +105 | L | 5 ov | U | | 4/11/2015 | at COLORADO | 2-3 | L | 0, -115 | L | 5 ov | P | | 4/15/2015 | at NASHVILLE | 4-3 | W | 0, +105 | W | 5 ov | O | | 4/17/2015 | at NASHVILLE | 2-6 | L | 0, +105 | L | 5 ov | O | | 4/19/2015 | NASHVILLE | 4-2 | W | 0, -160 | W | 5 ov | O | | 4/21/2015 | NASHVILLE | 3-2 | W | 0, -160 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 4/23/2015 | at NASHVILLE | |
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| 3/28/2015 | at WASHINGTON | 4-3 | W | 0, +110 | W | 5 ov | O | | 3/29/2015 | CALGARY | 2-5 | L | 0, -150 | L | 5.5 un | O | | 3/31/2015 | VANCOUVER | 4-5 | L | 0, -150 | L | 5 ov | O | | 4/4/2015 | DALLAS | 3-4 | L | 0, -190 | L | 5.5 un | O | | 4/7/2015 | at COLORADO | 2-3 | L | 0, -145 | L | 5 ov | P | | 4/9/2015 | MINNESOTA | 2-4 | L | 0, -175 | L | 5 ev | O | | 4/11/2015 | at DALLAS | 1-4 | L | 0, +120 | L | 5.5 ev | U | | 4/15/2015 | CHICAGO | 3-4 | L | 0, -125 | L | 5 ov | O | | 4/17/2015 | CHICAGO | 6-2 | W | 0, -125 | W | 5 ov | O | | 4/19/2015 | at CHICAGO | 2-4 | L | 0, +140 | L | 5 ov | O | | 4/21/2015 | at CHICAGO | 2-3 | L | 0, +140 | L | 5.5 un | U | | 4/23/2015 | CHICAGO | |
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| |  | CHICAGO: LAST SEASON: 46-21-15, 107 points. Finished third in Central Division, lost to Los Angeles Kings in Western Conference final.
COACH: Joel Quenneville, 7th season with the Blackhawks, 268-127-59; 18th in the NHL, 706-410-77-100.
ADDED: C Brad Richards, G Michael Leighton.
LOST: LW Brandon Bollig, D Sheldon Brookbank.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Brandon Saad. The talented winger was terrific in the final part of the playoff series against the Kings, collecting three goals and four assists in the last four games. Playing on a line with Patrick Kane and newcomer Brad Richards, he could do even better than his career highs of 19 goals and 28 assists from last season.
OUTLOOK: It's Stanley Cup or bust for the loaded Blackhawks, who have no glaring weaknesses. They should be among the league's highest-scoring teams again this season, and Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith leads a solid group of defensemen. The Central could be hockey's toughest division, but the Blackhawks are a legitimate threat for their third NHL title in the last six seasons. | | NASHVILLE: LAST SEASON: 38-32-12, 88 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing 10th in the Western Conference.
COACH: Peter Laviolette, 1st season with Predators, 389-282-25-63 overall.
ADDED: F James Neal, F Olli Jokinen, F Mike Ribeiro, F Derek Roy.
LOST: Coach Barry Trotz, goaltenders coach Mitch Korn, F Patric Hornqvist, F Nick Spaling.
PLAYER TO WATCH: G Pekka Rinne. Even with Ribeiro needing to prove his personal issues have been handled, Rinne is the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist who anchors Nashville's defense. He only played 24 games last season after an infection in his surgically-repaired hip needed more surgery, keeping him on crutches for weeks. Rinne went 3-0-1 in his final four games and was the MVP of the World Championships.
OUTLOOK: The Predators missed the playoffs by three points with Rinne missing much of last season. Laviolette is expected to boost the Predators' offense and take advantage of the experienced forwards added during the offseason, and general manager David Poile has made it clear they must reach the playoffs. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW (CHICAGO-NASHVILLE) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Blackhawks-Predators Preview* ==============================
By KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
Chicago At Nashville, Game Five, 9:30 p.m. EDT
If there was ever a scenario in which sports fans might prefer for their team to celebrate a series win in a visiting arena rather than their home city, this could be it.
The Nashville Predators organization has gone to great lengths to try to keep Chicago fans and their traditions out of Bridgestone Arena. That happens to be where the Central Division foes will meet Thursday night in Game 5 of their first-round series with the Blackhawks in a position to end the Predators' once-promising season.
The Predators have taken steps geared toward limiting options for Chicago fans to buy tickets for games in Nashville, and the organization has gone as far as electing to have the crowd sing the national anthem before games rather than a performer to silence Chicago fans' cheering of the anthem, as is part of the Blackhawks' home-ice tradition.
That tradition has in recent history included plenty of deep postseason runs, and the likelihood for another grew with Tuesday's 3-2 home win in three overtimes to give Chicago a 3-1 series edge.
Brent Seabrook scored a minute into the third extra session to make a 50-save effort from Scott Darling hold up.
Aside from the commanding series lead, there isn't much more that separates the teams. They've each scored 13 goals, while Nashville is 3 of 15 on the power play and Chicago is 2 of 15. Nashville's average shot advantage of 44.5-36.5 might be the most substantial difference. The Blackhawks have just found the net in both overtime games.
"Every game's been tight, every game's been on the line, a very competitive series," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Momentum's been shifting during games, and shift to shift for that matter."
Logic might lead one to think that would favor veteran Pekka Rinne, but it's been the inexperienced Darling who has stolen the spotlight - as well as Corey Crawford's starting job.
Darling took over after a 6-2 Game 2 loss in Nashville and won both home games. In three appearances in the series, all victories, the rookie has a .969 save percentage with an average of 42.3 saves per game. For the season, he's 12-4-0 with a .944 save percentage.
Continuing that in his first playoff start in Nashville is the next step, though he hasn't seen a huge drop-off away from the United Center. Darling is 7-3-0 with a .932 save percentage on the road, including a 3-1 victory in Nashville on Dec. 6.
Rinne, meanwhile, has seen his season fade along with the Predators'. He made 45 saves Tuesday, but fell to 8-13-4 with a .903 save percentage dating to Feb. 19 after going 34-7-2 with a .932 mark until that point.
Things have been especially bad with the team going 1-7-2 with 3.70 goals against dating to March 29.
"Our guys are a resilient group," said coach Peter Laviolette, who has been without defenseman Shea Weber and forward Mike Fisher due to lower-body injuries. "They will not cave. They will not go away quietly. They'll be ready to play Game 5, I promise you."
They might also be due for things to fall their way. Chicago has won six of eight meetings this season, though it holds just a 24-22 scoring edge and is 3 of 28 on the power play. The Predators have dropped seven of nine playoff games while conceding only a 25-22 scoring advantage.
Four of those 22 have come from a rejuvenated Colin Wilson in this series after the center went his last 15 games of the regular season without scoring.
The clubs' only other playoff series ended with the Blackhawks eliminating the Predators in Game 6 of the 2010 first round in Nashville. Chicago has won seven of 10 postseason meetings and three of five at Bridgestone.
Another win would send the Blackhawks to the conference semifinals for the fifth time in seven seasons under Quenneville, during which their .612 playoff winning percentage is the league's best.
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| | Last Updated: 6/17/2024 4:46:58 AM EST. |
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