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NHL.com Staff

Five reasons Blackhawks advanced to second round

Sunday, 04.26.2015 / 12:48 PM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent

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:

Failure to hold leads doomed Predators in series

Sunday, 04.26.2015 / 12:36 AM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Robby Stanley - NHL.com Correspondent

CHICAGO -- The Nashville Predators lost three games to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference First Round after holding a lead.

The latest, 4-3 in Game 6 on Saturday -- after leading 3-1 -- ended Nashville's season.

Earlier in the best-of-7 series, the Blackhawks came back to win two games that went to double overtime or beyond. 

"Throughout the series, I felt like in some of the games the puck had eyes," Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "You look at at least three games, the winners, a couple of [overtime] games and then tonight, just generated from the point and just find a way through the maze.

"Obviously that feels disappointing when you feel like maybe you get a break one of these games. It hit something and doesn't go in. Obviously those ones, I mean it's frustrating. I'll have way too much time on my hands to think about these things."

Crawford back in goal for Blackhawks; Darling pulled

Saturday, 04.25.2015 / 11:40 PM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

NHL.com

The Chicago Blackhawks changed goaltenders in the first period of Game 6 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Nashville Predators on Saturday, with Corey Crawford relieving Scott Darling after he allowed three goals in the first 11:16.

Crawford made 13 saves, giving the Blackhawks a chance to rally for a 4-3 win that ended the series.

Blackhawks to start Darling in Game 6 vs. Predators

Friday, 04.24.2015 / 6:16 PM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

NHL.com

CHICAGO -- Goalie Scott Darling will start for the Chicago Blackhawks against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at United Center on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports 2).

Darling allowed three of Nashville's four third-period goals and lost Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. The 5-2 loss cut the Blackhawks' lead to 3-2 in the best-of-7 series.

Darling took over the starting role after a similar performance in Game 2 by Corey Crawford, but Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said he isn't ready to switch back.

"He's played well in this series," Quenneville said of Darling, who has a 1.67 goals-against average and .950 save percentage. "You could look at the four games he's been in, he's been solid. [We're] very happy with the way he's played, so he's going [Saturday]."

Blackhawks miss chance to eliminate Predators

Friday, 04.24.2015 / 1:53 AM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent

NASHVILLE – The Chicago Blackhawks weathered the early storm they expected from the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. But another one, early in the third period, was too powerful to overcome in Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series.

The Predators' three goals in the first 3:14 of the third period turned a 1-1 game after 40 minutes into a 5-2 victory for Nashville, which pulled within 3-2 in the best-of-7 series heading into Game 6 at United Center on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports 2).

"We just got sloppy," said center Brad Richards, who scored the game's first goal at 13:27 of the first period. "[We] fed a lot of transition, outnumbered rushes, so we've got to get back to being stingier and paying attention to details with the puck."

Inside the numbers on longest game of 2015 playoffs

Wednesday, 04.22.2015 / 11:56 AM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville probably best summed up the longest game to date in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"I don't think I've ever played a game this late. Ever," Quenneville said.

Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook ended it when his one-timer from the blue line got past Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne for the game-winner 1:00 into triple overtime to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 victory against the Predators in Game 4 of their Western Conference First Round series.

The Blackhawks, who lead the best-of-7 series 3-1, will look to close the series in Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports 3, CSN-CH, FS-TN).

Disappointed Predators turn focus to Game 5

Wednesday, 04.22.2015 / 3:37 AM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Robby Stanley - NHL.com Correspondent

CHICAGO – The Nashville Predators don't have a lot of time to get over another heartbreaker.

The Predators are on the brink of elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing 3-2 in triple overtime to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round. Brent Seabrook's goal 60 seconds into the third OT put Chicago ahead 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. The Predators will try to stay alive by winning Game 5 on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports 3, CSN-CH, FS-TN).

It was the second time in the series that the Predators came up a goal short in a multiple-overtime game. They lost 4-3 in double overtime in Game 1 despite outshooting the Blackhawks 54-42. This time, the Predators outshot the Blackhawks 52-48 but were unable to solve rookie goaltender Scott Darling in extra time.

Crawford lending support to Game 4 starter Darling

Monday, 04.20.2015 / 4:18 PM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent

CHICAGO – When the Chicago Blackhawks take the ice at United Center on Tuesday for Game 4 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Nashville Predators (9:30 p.m. ET: NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports 3, FS-TN, CSN-CH), rookie goalie Scott Darling will get his second straight start.

Darling, 26, earned the nod from coach Joel Quenneville with a 35-save performance in Game 3, when he played over Corey Crawford and won his first career start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to help the Blackhawks take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

"I've been working hard all year with the goalie coaches and just trying to be ready to go in case I ever got a moment like this," Darling said Monday. "Now I'm just trying to make the most of it."

Weber's absence hurts Predators in Game 3 loss

Sunday, 04.19.2015 / 8:24 PM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

Robby Stanley - NHL.com Correspondent

CHICAGO -- The Nashville Predators struggled to slow down the Chicago Blackhawks without defenseman Shea Weber in a 4-2 loss in Game 3 of their Western Conference First Round series.

Weber left Game 2 with a lower-body injury in the second period and did not make the trip to Chicago for Games 3 and 4.

Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series and was able to capitalize against Nashville's top defense pairing of Roman Josi and Seth Jones, who was promoted in Weber's absence.

The Blackhawks scored three times in the second period to grab a 4-2 lead, and Jones and Josi were on the ice for the first two, as well as Andrew Desjardins' first-period goal.

Predators captain Weber not traveling to Chicago

Saturday, 04.18.2015 / 7:49 PM / Predators vs Blackhawks - 2015 SCP First Round

NHL.com

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber will not travel to Chicago and will miss Games 3 and 4 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Chicago Blackhawks because of a lower-body injury, it was announced Saturday.

Weber was injured at 9:20 of the second period on a hit by the Blackhawks' Brandon Saad behind the Predators net. Weber appeared unable to put weight on his right leg as he left the ice.

He had one assist and was a plus-1 in 13:25 of ice time in the Predators' 6-2 victory that evened the best-of-7 series 1-1.
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