The Chicago Blackhawks eliminated the Nashville Predators in six games, but their Western Conference First Round series went the distance in terms of drama and ice time.
The Blackhawks eked out three one-goal wins, including two in overtime games that totaled 68:49 beyond regulation. It took more than seven regulation periods for the Blackhawks to oust the Predators from the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a Game 1 win in double overtime and Game 4 win in triple overtime.
Even discounting an empty-net goal for the Predators at the end of their 5-2 victory in Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena, Chicago was outscored 21-19 and needed each goalie to step up. Nashville lost captain Shea Weber to a lower-body injury in Game 2 and had center Mike Fisher for two-plus games, but the Predators still put more shots on goal in four of the six games.
How did Chicago win? Here are five reasons the Blackhawks advanced to the second round: