Michal Kempny will make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. Kempny gets the nod over two-time Stanley Cup winner Johnny Oduya, who Chicago reacquired near the trade deadline.
Chicago trails the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals series 3-0 against Nashville and must win to avoid a first-round exit for a second straight year.
Kempny was paired with Brent Seabrook on the Hawks’ second blue line during Wednesday’s practice while Duncan Keith and Niklas Hjalmarsson were the top pairing and Brian Campbell and Trevor van Riemsdyk rounded out the group.