The Blackhawks faced off against the Predators on Monday night in the first of a three-game series, fighting to keep their playoffs playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, those postseason dreams are fading fast as the Blackhawks lost 5-2 to the Predators and slipped to four points back for the fourth and final spot in the playoffs.
As in four of the last five meetings between these two teams, the Predators struck first, this time off a returning Matt Duchene goal 6:22 into the first period. Matt Benning’s point shot double-deflected off Erik Haula and then Duchene to put the Predators up 1-0.