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Blackhawks return home to face Predators

Jan 5, 2007 - 2:11 PM Nashville (26-11-3) at Chicago (17-18-5) 8:30 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- After spending a significant chunk of this week in St. Louis, the Chicago Blackhawks hope a block of home games will provide a boost.

With losses in three of their last four games, the Blackhawks look to move back to the .500 mark Friday when they host the Nashville Predators at the halfway point of the season.

Chicago split a pair of road games against the Blues this week. The Blackhawks followed Tuesday's 4-1 victory by failing to score on 28 shots in Thursday's 2-0 loss. It was their fourth shutout defeat of the campaign.

The Blackhawks fell to 7-10-4 on the road, but will play eight of their next 10 games at home.

Nashville won nine of 16 games in December, including five straight in the middle of the month, before opening January with Monday's 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Jason Arnott scored two goals, Alexander Radulov added his 11th and Kimmo Timonen collected a pair of assists for the Predators, who share first place in the Central Division with the Detroit Red Wings.

Chicago won the first three meetings against Nashville this season before the Predators posted a 2-1 triumph on December 20.