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Predators-Blackhawks Preview

Dec 27, 2009 - 6:23 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Nashville (22-12-3) at Chicago (24-9-3), 7:00 p.m. EDT

There's only one more chance for the Chicago Blackhawks to defeat their closest pursuer in the Central Division.

The Blackhawks conclude their season series with the Nashville Predators on Sunday night as Chicago looks for a home-and-home sweep of its division rival.

Chicago (25-9-3) earned a 4-1 victory in Nashville (22-13-3) on Saturday as Cristobal Huet made 25 saves and four different Blackhawks scored. Martin Erat scored Nashville's lone goal in the second period.

The Blackhawks moved six points ahead of the Predators in the Central and took a 3-2 lead in the season series. They fell just short of recording their fifth shutout in December - no team has had five shutouts in a calendar month since New Jersey in December 2003.

"When you play back-to-back games winning the first one is always nice," Huet said. "I think we can expect a little more from Nashville when we play them again."

The Blackhawks also have plenty of experience winning the second half of back-to-back games. They are 6-0-2 this season when playing for the second consecutive night.

Huet has started all five games against Nashville this season, but coach Joel Quenneville would not say whether Huet or Antti Niemi - who has three shutouts in his last five games - would start Sunday's regular-season series finale.

"It is unusual that we are going to play our last game with them," Quenneville said of the Predators. "This one is also important for everyone involved and we have to respond in kind. Who knows if it is a good thing to be done with them this early?"

The Predators have lost two straight by 4-1 scores, including a defeat Tuesday in Vancouver. This comes on the heels of a four-game win streak in which they scored 23 goals.

"There has to be more urgency and more fire in the belly," coach Barry Trotz said after Saturday's defeat. "It was not just another game against Chicago. It's not one of 82. You are battling for something. If we're not battling then our expectations for ourselves are too low."

Chicago's Dustin Byfuglien scored on the power play for his third tally against Nashville this season. The Blackhawks added goals by Patrick Kane and Andrew Ladd in a 1:10 span of the second period to take a 3-1 lead.

"I thought we responded to the game, played a perfect road game, did a lot of good things right," Quenneville said. "Power play scored first, which was important, did some good things there. Even though they did tie it up there, but I thought we were responsible in all zones."

Jonathan Toews and Tomas Kopecky each had two assists for Chicago, which had 40 shots on goal.

"It's fun to see guys get scoring chances," Toews said. "What makes our team dangerous is you can't just key on two or three guys, especially forwards.

"All four lines were producing. This was one of those games where we needed an effort from everybody. We are going to have to give an even better effort Sunday night."

Chicago had a five-game home win streak snapped Tuesday with a 3-2 loss to San Jose. The Predators are one of five visiting teams to win at the United Center, notching a 4-1 victory Dec. 4.