The Blackhawks allowed five unanswered goals in a 5-2 loss to the Predators in their season finale Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Chicago finishes the season with a 36-34-12 record and 84 points and misses the playoffs for the second straight year. Nashville, meanwhile, won the Central Division title for the second consecutive year and will face the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs.
Brendan Perlini and Drake Caggiula scored for the Blackhawks in the first period. Cam Ward, who was playing in back-to-back nights, made 45 saves on 49 shots in what could be his final NHL game.