An injury-ravaged Nashville Predators took the ice against Chicago tonight, with a lineup that more closely resembled the legendary Soup Game of yore. On the other side of the ice, the Blackhawks’ lower lines prompted a similar amount of “who?” from the gathered Nashville media.
The Preds got off to a good start, making it almost a full minute before icing the puck. The important stuff would begin a minute later, with the Preds taking a 1-0 lead off a somewhat lucky (and poorly defended) shot from Fiala. A minute and a half later, Eeli Tolvanen potted his first NHL goal off a clean backhander from the slot via a great pass from Craig Smith.