Chicago Blackhawks: Life in the NHL's Toughest Division—the Central

The Chicago Blackhawks have 14 games remaining against the teams in the Central Division, starting with a pair of games with Nashville. The home and home gets started on Saturday night when the the league-leading Blackhawks travel to take on the fourth-place Nashville Predators.

It will be anything but easy. The Central is the best division in the NHL right now. Nashville is not your typical fourth-place team.

The Predators have won eight of their last 10 games and have 58 points on the season. That's good enough for first or second in any of the other five divisions. In the Central, however, Nashville is just trying to keep up with the pack.

As of Saturday, the top three point totals in the league are the 'Hawks, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues with 64, 63 and 62 points, respectively. The Blues are tied with the New York Rangers' 62 points, but there's no denying that the Central Division could be a real factor come playoff time.

Right now, Central Division teams are the first (Chicago), fourth (Detroit), fifth (St. Louis) and sixth (Nashville) seeds in the Western Conference. Those positions will fluctuate almost daily, so the Blackhawks can't afford to get comfortable on their perch just yet.

The Red Wings, like Nashville, are 8-2 over their last 10 games and have won the last two meetings with Chicago. The Blues are 7-1-2 in that span and have been one of the league's hottest teams with Ken Hitchcock now on the bench.

So far, the Blackhawks have gotten the best of their division battles, going 7-1-2 in the 10 games they have had against their Central rivals. That record is a bit misleading in that four of Chicago's wins have come courtesy of Columbus, the red-headed stepchild of the division.

Chicago pulled out a 5-4 overtime win in their only meeting with the Predators back on Halloween. That was a while back—not only was Bryan Bickell playing at that point of the season, but he also scored a goal. Viktor Stalberg potted the game winner.

The 'Hawks are 1-1 with St. Louis and own a 1-0-2 mark against Detroit. That's what makes these two games with Nashville so vital. Of the last 14 division games, 12 will be against the Red Wings (three), Blues (four) or Predators (five).

Throw in a nine-game road trip after the All-Star break, and you can see that despite a league-leading mark, the Blackhawks still have their work cut out for them.

Bridgestone Arena has been a tough place to play for Chicago. They are 4-3-2 there over the last three seasons as they prepare for action Saturday. We all know what to expect from the Predators. The 'Hawks have to convert on the opportunities they get to force Barry Trotz out of his defensive shell.

Saturday, along with Tuesday's rematch in the United Center, is a chance to put a little bit of breathing room between the Blackhawks and at least one more division foe. It's going to take a pair of solid, three-period efforts.