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Is it 7pm Yet?

April 25, 2015, 11:29 AM ET [31 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
No more clichés. Ok, one more… it is win or go home… or maybe a better way to put it would be win AND go home. Tonight, the Nashville Predators have to do something that they haven’t done since March 23, 2014, and something they haven’t done in the playoffs since April 16, 2010.

Win at the United Center.

It is a simple as that. Win and your season continues, win and there will be a game seven at Bridgestone Arena on Monday night. The first game seven in franchise history. If only it was a simple as it sounds.

Oh hell… why even play it? I mean look at the stats and the history, the Chicago Blackhawks excel in these types of games. The Hawks have never blown a 3-1 lead in the playoffs. They are 16-0 in series where they have won three of the first four games of a playoff series. Going back to 2009, the Blackhawks are 11-1 in Game 6… they are 6-1 at home in series clinching games and are 12-2 in games where they have a chance to eliminate an opponent.

Wait, what? Oh sorry… they are 12-3 in games where they have a chance to eliminate an opponent.

The Predators on the other hand are 1-4 in Game 6 in their franchise history. They have never come from this far behind to win a series, heck, they’ve only won two series in franchise history. The Predators are 1-6 in games where they could be eliminated… wait, what? Oh sorry… they are 2-4 in games where they could be eliminated.

So the odds of a win tonight are astronomical… but… in the immortal words of Han Solo…

Never tell me the odds…

Tonight has the potential to an epic moment in Predators franchise history. The young players on this team have stepped it up to another level and have grown up very quickly, really since Shea Weber went down in game two… A defense that lost its leader has grown with every minute of play, rookie Filip Forsberg has figured out a few things, resulting in the first hat trick in franchise history. The return of Mike Fisher was a key to game five and will be a key for tonight as well. Players have gone outside their comfort zone, Mike Ribeiro playing with a nasty edge, Viktor Stalberg finally finding his game after two full seasons, Colin Wilson being the power forward that everyone knew he could be.

All of that being said… the Chicago Blackhawks do NOT want to come back to Nashville for a game seven. They will throw everything they can at Nashville tonight to close this one out. They are a deep, experienced team who has a real advantage in the “been there / done that” department. Deeply talented with the right combination of skill, experience and agitation, the Blackhawks should not have an issue tonight, they are used to the national TV prime time spotlight that will be shining on this game as NBC and Sportsnet have it live from coast to coast.

Scott Darling will be in net again after getting roughed up a bit on Thursday night. Honestly, head coach Joel Quinneville may not have a choice as veteran Corey Crawford has been less than stellar. The Blackhawks hopes may rest on a goaltender that started the season in the AHL and a few as 13 months ago was in the ECHL, playing for Cincinnati. Darling is a Cinderella story and a lot will depend on whether or not Thursday night was an aberration… or the clock striking midnight.

Is it 7pm yet?

Here’s the preview from nhl.com


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Random Notes

- Pekka Rinne was named one of the finalists for the Vezina Trophy yesterday, he won’t win it, but at least the GM’s got the top three right, unlike the PHWA and the Calder race.

- The Forsberg snub was news in Nashville, but Dallas fans have a case for their rookie dman John Klingberg who was every bit as deserving as Ekblad.

- Bizarro Stat – The Predators trail this series 3-2… In 367 minutes of play in this series the Blackhawks have led for less than 40 minutes. That’s just nuts…

- Filip Forsberg’s big night Thursday put him in the points lead among rookies in the post-season and put him tied for third in overall goal scoring.

- Colin Wilson is leading the playoffs in power play points and has set a new franchise record for goal scoring in a series.

- Former Pred Nick Spaling scored the game tying goal in last night’s series clincher between the Pens and Rangers. The Rangers win means the Penguins drama is just beginning…

- After Ottawa’s stunning win last night, I bet the pucker factor is amping up in Montreal…

- The back and forth in the Blues / Wild series has to be giving their fans whiplash. Minnesota bounced back from a drubbing at home with a smackdown of the Blues at Scottrade.

- Peter Chiarelli in Edmonton… great move. Someone from outside needed to come in, this is a bigger move that getting Connor McDavid in this year’s draft and should have a lasting impact. Watch out for Edmonton gang…

- Three elimination scenarios tonight after teams with the chance to win their series went 1-1 last night.

Four games tonight with national coverage options…
- Washington @ New York Islanders – WSH leads 3-2 – 2pm CDT faceoff – NBC, SN
- Detroit @ Tampa Bay – Series tied 2-2 – 5pm CDT faceoff – NBCSN, CBC
- Nashville @ Chicago – CHI leads 3-2 – 7pm CDT faceoff – NBC, SN
- Vancouver @ Calgary – CGY leads 3-2 – 8pm CDT faceoff – CNBC, CBC

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