Chicago Blackhawks look to end three-game losing skid against Nashville Predators in Central Division showdown

The Chicago Blackhawks look to end their three-game skid as they travel from the Windy City to the Music City to face the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Chicago is coming off a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday. Despite the defeat, Connor Bedard recorded his 100th NHL point with a power-play goal.

Louis Crevier scored his second career goal, and Petr Mrazek made 31 saves. The Blackhawks’ record now stands at 14-28-2 this season.

This is the second of four meets this season between the two teams.

Nashville won the first game in Chicago on Oct. 25, overcoming a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 victory. Brady Skjei scored the game-winning goal on the power play.

They’ll face each other again on Feb. 7 in Chicago and Mar. 8 in Nashville. 

Team Notes...

• Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Blackhawks in goals (14) while Connor Bedard is first in assists (27) and points (39).

• Head coach Anders Sorensen adjusted the Blackhawks’ lines during practice on Wednesday, pairing Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar with Tyler Bertuzzi on the top line. This line combination has potential to become a dynamic offensive force in the near future.

• The second line features Colton Dach, Lukas Reichel, and Nick Foligno. Ilya Mikheyev was bumped down to the third line with Teuvo Teravainen and Jason Dickinson. Fourth line remains the same with Taylor Hall, Ryan Donato and Patrick Maroon.

• Defensive pairs are the same as last game for the Hawks. Craig Smith is still sidelined with a back injury.

The Other Squad...

The Predators are coming off of a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday. Steven Stamkos finished the game with a three-point night (two goals, one assist). Jonathan Marchessault leads Nashville in goals (14) while Filip Forsberg, who contributed a goal and assist against Vegas, leads the team in assists (25) and points (37).

This is the third of a five-game homestand for the Predators, who hold a 1-1-0 record so far during the stretch.

Keys to the Game...

1. Focus: The Blackhawks have been struggling of late, including criticism from fans and calls for Seth Jones to be traded and pressure on Connor Bedard. To succeed, the team must block out distractions and find a way to start winning games.

2. Strong Start: Chicago has often scored first this season. Setting the tone early will be crucial to prevent the Predators from gaining momentum.

3. More Offense: Connor Bedard is the main player contributing offensively for the Blackhawks. They’ll need more players to step up such as Frank Nazar, Colton Dach, Lukas Reichel, Ilya Mikheyev to take the pressure off of Bedard.

How to Watch: Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CST on CHSN in Chicago and all other CHSN markets via over-the-air.