Blackhawks vs. Predators: Preview and Prediction for 2015 NHL Playoffs Matchup

The Chicago Blackhawks had a difficult road with injuries this season and spent long periods looking like a team that would not be a strong Stanley Cup contender. The team entered the final 10 games of the season with a chance to win the Central Division but fell far short with a 4-6-0 run to wrap up the campaign.

The Nashville Predators had a terrific season under new coach Peter Laviolette and are back to the levels they reached four or five years ago. One concern for Predators fans comes from their final week, in which they lost all three games. The two teams have met in the playoffs once before, with Chicago winning in the conference quarterfinal in 2010.

One area that could be key in this series is experience. The Blackhawks are led by a core group that has enjoyed tremendous success together, including two Stanley Cup victories since 2010. The group is aging, but key players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Niklas Hjalmarsson are under 30 years old. The Predators have several veterans but are less experienced in the playoffs.

What are the big stories and challenges for Chicago and Nashville? Who will be the impact players? Where are the areas of weakness? Let's have a look at these two teams as we approach Game 1.

Regular-Season Recap

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The Nashville Predators began the season with a new coach in Peter Laviolette, a healthy Pekka Rinne in goal and a determination to improve their 2013-14 goal differential of minus-26. They got off to a fine start and on December 31 stood with a record of 24-9-3 and a goal differential of plus-30. Nashville ran in place for the rest of the season, finishing 47-25-10 and with an overall goal differential of plus-24.

The Chicago Blackhawks began the season with high expectations and were on course on the last day of 2014. The 'Hawks sported a 25-10-2 record and were plus-40 in goal differential, which at the time ranked No. 1 in the NHL. Chicago gave up as much as it scored in 2015, posting a 23-18-4 record and finishing the season with a goal differential of plus-40—not improving that number in the season's final 45 games.

Schedule and TV Info

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Game 1
Wednesday, April 15
8:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators
NBCSN, TVA, SN360

Game 2
Friday, April 17
9:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators
NBCSN, TVA, SN

Game 3
Sunday, April 19
3 p.m. ET
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks
NBC, TVA, SN

Game 4
Tuesday, April 21
9:30 p.m. ET
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks
NBCSN, TVA, SN

*Game 5: Thursday, April 23, time TBD (Chicago at Nashville)

*Game 6: Saturday April 25, time TBD (Nashville at Chicago)

*Game 7: Monday April 27, time TBD (Chicago at Nashville)

*If necessary

Key Storylines

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

Will Patrick Kane Play? 

The Chicago Blackhawks have plenty of firepower offensively, but impact winger Patrick Kane has been on the sidelines for some time. According to a tweet from Pat Boyle of CSN Chicago (h/t Dhiren Mahiban of Pro Hockey Talk), Kane has been cleared for contact and is probable for Game 1 of the series. This is monumental news, as Kane makes everyone better. He may take some time to get his timing back, but this should be considered major news in regard to this series.

Can Filip Forsberg Sustain His Pace?

Every playoff series that involves a rookie impact player will see questions swirl around that player's ability to flourish when the going gets tough. Filip Forsberg had a tremendous rookie season with the Nashville Predators and will be counted on to deliver strong performances. He finished the season with four points in four April games, so he looks to be ready.

Who Wins the Even-Strength Battle?

Both teams are splendid at outscoring during five-by-five portions of the game, which is key because that's the major game state. Chicago and Nashville rank No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the entire league in five-by-five goals-for ratio, which may indicate some tight results.

Players to Watch

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

The key player for the Chicgao Blackhawks up front is Jonathan Toews. On a team loaded with offensive talent, Toews is able to keep up and is actually one of the team's top performing players at even strength, as shown via Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. He plays tough opposition—via BehindTheNet.ca—and outscores them, a vital component to winning playoff series.

Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

Although not well-known—even among hockey fans—Roman Josi is a brilliant two-way defender for the Nashville Predators. A lot of their offense comes from their defense, and Nashville will rely on Josi to deliver in all areas. He is one of the NHL's best defenders at delivering offense at even strength.

Goaltender Breakdown

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators got a good look at life without Pekka Rinne last season, and it wasn't attractive. The team missed its rock in net, and the team save percentage plummeted to well below average. This season, Rinne is back to being a workhorse and delivering quality play. It's a major reason Nashville is back in the playoffs.

Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

The problem with playing goal in front of a famous team is no one notices until you fail. Crawford is an effective NHL goalie, and the position is a strength for Chicago, with two quality backups who may be starters-in-waiting. The Blackhawks will run with Crawford, and he should be Rinne's equal in the series.

Biggest Mismatch: Skill and Experience at the Forward Position

PAUL BEATY/Associated Press

Nashville Predators' Top-Scoring Forwards: Filip Forsberg 26 goals; Craig Smith 23 goals; James Neal 23 goals; Colin Wilson 20 goals; Mike Fisher 19 goals.

Chicago Blackhawks' Top-Scoring Forwards: Jonathan Toews 28 goals; Patrick Kane 27 goals; Brandon Saad 23 goals; Marian Hossa 22 goals; Patrick Sharp 16 goals.

These two teams are fairly evenly matched, as reflected by the scoring of their top players, but the 'Hawks players are more experienced and have more range in their skills. Furthermore, Kane's return would give Chicago a boost, although the five-by-five goals-for percentage provided by Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com suggests Nashville is the best in the league at the discipline. There isn't a lot to choose between these two teams, but the Chicago forwards are formidable.

The Predators Will Win If Their Defense Delivers

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

The Nashville Predators received quality offense from the defense this year, with a total of 55 goals from the blue line. An impressive 39 of those goals came at even strength, which means it's a big part of the overall offense the Predators rely on every game. If Roman Josi, Shea Weber, Ryan Ellis, Seth Jones and Mattias Ekholm can deliver at normal levels offensively, the Predators should have enough to win the series. 

The Predators don't have a dominant forward—even Filip Forsberg, although he may become one in the future—so there's a lot of pressure on the defensemen. They are a strong group and will be difficult to overcome.

The Blackhawks Will Win If Patrick Kane Can Shake off the Rust

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago lost its best offensive player on February 24, and at that time its record was 35-20-5 with 177 goals—or 2.95 per game. After Kane's injury, Chicago's record was 13-8-1, and it averaged 2.36 goals per game. Kane's presence on the roster makes the Blackhawks more formidable and allows them to use Marian Hossa and others in different roles.

The issue for Kane will be how much time it will take him to return to form. If he can make it back to normal time-on-ice per game, that should be enough for Chicago to win what will no doubt be a close series.

Prediction: Blackhawks in 6

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

This prediction assumes Patrick Kane can make it back to play effectively during most of the games in this series, which sounds like a reasonable bet. Chicago's top players—Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa—are the best players in the series, and that should be the difference.

The Nashville Predators have a strong team and could win, but they lack an answer for all that firepower up front in Chicago. A lot of Nashville's offense comes from its defense, and there may come a time when Filip Forsberg can impact a series like this one enough to win the day. It isn't this season, and Chicago will move on after six games.