Blackhawks 3 - 1 Predators
Final
  for this game

Preds try to tie home record in matchup with rival Blackhawks

Dec 6, 2014 - 3:47 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Nashville Predators are out to prove they are the team to beat in the Central Division.

A victory over the rival Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday would match a franchise record as well.

Nashville takes aim at an eighth straight home victory as it battles Chicago for the third time this season.

The Predators hold the top spot in the Central Division with 36 points, one more than the Blackhawks and two ahead of the St. Louis Blues. The Winnipeg Jets, meanwhile, are only four points out of first place, making the division one of the tightest in the league.

Nashville has won five of its past six overall and extended its home winning streak with Thursday's 4-3 win over St. Louis. Mike Ribeiro scored his third goal in as many games and Colin Wilson had the eventual game-winner with a breakaway goal in the third period.

Ribeiro added two assists and Filip Forsberg and Eric Nystrom also scored, while Pekka Rinne ended with 29 saves.

"Both teams are pretty even," said Predators forward Mike Fisher. "All the games have been real intense and hard fought. It's fun winning those ones you can pull out."

The Preds are 11-1-1 at home and a victory tonight would match the longest home winning streak in team history that was set from Jan. 6-Feb. 8, 2007.

Rinne figures to get the start and is 14-10-3 in his career versus the Blackhawks with a 2.51 goals against average and .918 save percentage.

The Preds and 'Hawks have split two meetings this season, with each team picking up a win at home. Nashville has won five of the last seven encounters between the teams and three of four played in Nashville.

Chicago begins a four-game road trip tonight after topping the visiting Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Friday night.

The Habs had grabbed the lead with a two-goal second period, but Jonathan Toews' power-play goal 4:18 into the third tied the game and Brandon Saad netted the winning score with 27 seconds left to play.

Toews also notched an assist and both Ben Smith and Michal Rozsival scored to extend Chicago's winning streak to a season-high five straight games. It also has won eight of nine.

"You don't really want it to go that way, where you have to come up with big third periods, but we're finding ways to win games," Smith said. "You have to be happy about that. It's definitely something to work on there in the second [periods], finding ways to stay consistent in our game. It's always nice to come back in the third though."

Antti Raanta made 38 saves as he filled in again for the injured Corey Crawford (foot). Backup Scott Darling could spell Raanta tonight and the rookie is 2-1-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .933 save percentage in three career starts.






Related News