As he entered the season, the expectations of Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks were at the opposite ends of the spectrum.
Nashville had high hopes for major off-season movements and was considered by many to be a Sure-Fire Playoff team. Chicago was expected to be among the lower teams as it continued to rebuild.
But with less than six weeks to go during the season, the predators are in Blackhawk’s company when the Central Division Foes strikes its season series in Chicago on Saturday night.
Nashville leads the series 2-1, won 3-2 in Chicago on October 25 and 3-2 in a shootout in Nashville on January 16 and lost 6-2 in Chicago on February 7.
The predators participate in the competition, which is ranked 30th place in the NHL position, five points ahead of the Blackhawks. Points have been a question, with only 164 goals to Nashville’s credit (31) through 62 matches.
“I don’t think we expected to be here where we are,” said Predator’s general manager Barry Trotz after the NHL trading deadline on Friday. “The plan is in the pen and it has always been, but the road is in the pen. The road has not changed, but how we will get there, because we are in a sales position rather than a buying position. It is much more fun to be in the purchase situation and today was difficult.”
Nashville, who comes from a 5-3 victory against Seattle Kraken on Thursday, has won more than three games in a row only once this season and published five straight wins from January 14-23. A victory on Saturday would give the predators at least three in a row for the first time since that route and only the third time this season.
“One thing I am a great believer in, and I don’t want it, I believe a great faith in culture,” Trotz said. “This is a good test for our culture. We have not had the season we wanted, and we have been far too inconsistent. I want to see us start to form an identity that we can continue next year.”
In the meantime, the Blackhawks will appear to continue to build on a solid stretch of late and go 3-0-1 in the last four matches. This is the first time this season they have received points in as many games in a row.
Most recently, Chicago recovered after blowing a 3-1 lead to take a 4-3 overtime victory against Utah Hockey Club on Friday, thanks to Connor Bedard’s game-winning summary at 3:10 of the extra period.
“Of course, it’s nice to produce,” said Bedard, who also had an assist to give him 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists), 10 shy for his total from his Rookie campaign last season. “I’m an offensive guy, and obviously it’s not everything, but you can see a couple go your way. It feels good.”
The goal was Bedard’s first since February 7 and snapped an eight-game drought.
“This was the longest [drought] Of his really young career so far, and I thought he handled it really well, “said Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen.” He did not get frustrated and but with what he thinks works, which he has done. And today he was rewarded for that. “
Power Play has been a rare light for Chicago this season. The team is ranked as seventh in the league with a success rate of 26.2.
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