The Blackhawks have a game in hand on the Predators and they’re down four points — a gap that can be closed in the final 12 games of the season. Yet Wednesday’s game against Nashville is a must-win game for the Blackhawks, who cannot afford to fall behind by six points, especially now that the Stars have passed the Blackhawks as well, despite Dallas’ hectic schedule. The Stars are one point up on the Blackhawks and still have two games in hand.
Yet Chicago may again be without Adam Boqvist — still recovering from concussion symptoms — and Wyatt Kalynuk, who left Monday’s game with a hip injury after playing just 1:42.