Bring on the Predators,Blackhawks Playoff Run Starts Friday

It's not the most ideal match up for the Hawks, but it sure is better than the facing the Red Wings.

After losing a heart breaker to Detroit in the regular season finale, the Hawks just fell one point short of winning the Western Conference title and cementing home ice advantage for the playoffs. Instead San Jose won the conference, and with that the Hawks are the second seed and will play the seventh seed, Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2010 playoffs.

"They play a really good team game," Hawks' 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. "I feel like they kind of wait for mistakes. They don’t rush anywhere and play well defensively. They have good shooters from the blue line. We have to make sure we cover those guys."

When I think of the Predators, I think of defense. They have great defenders that love to push you around and be physical. Physicality is a major component in the Predators' game, but it doesn't seemed to have affected the Hawks too much, as the Hawks have won four out of the six match ups this against the Predators.

"They have some of the best D [defense] in [Shea] Weber and [Ryan] Suter and [Daniel] Hamhuis," Patrick Sharp said. "They don’t give up much in their D zone. They’re tough to create chances against."

The Hawks come into the playoffs red hot, and before losing in OT Sunday, the Hawks had won six in a row. All with Antti Niemi in net.

Niemi has looked sharp all season long recording a 26-7-4 win/loss record, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.25 GAA( goals against average), The only factor not going for the Finnish is his playoff experience, and the fact that he has none. Will it hurt him and the Hawks? Possibly, but then again you just never know.

Playoff hockey starts Wednesday, but the Hawks don't start their first round till Friday at 8:30pm est.

"A playoff opponent from the division," Sharp said. "It should be a good one."