PREVIEW: Blackhawks at Predators - Jan. 1, 2022

TIME: 1 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH | RADIO: WGN 720 AM | STREAM:
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After a 13-day schedule break, the Blackhawks are back in action to ring in the new year on Saturday afternoon with a matinee matchup against the Nashville Predators.

TEAM RECORDS

• CHI: 11-15-4, 26 PTS
• NSH: 19-11-2, 40 PTS

HOW TO WATCH

Catch all the action on NBC Sports Chicago and WGN Radio with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m.

VS. NASHVILLE

Chicago and Nashville have played two consecutive games that were decided in overtime this season with both clubs taking an extra-time victory.
In Chicago's 3-2 loss on Dec. 17, Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews scored in regulation. Toews also won 12 of his 18 (67 percent) faceoffs against Nashville. The Blackhawks defeated the Predators 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 7 at the United Center. Alex DeBrincat notched the game-winning marker in Derek King's first game as interim head coach. Brandon Hagel recorded Chicago's lone tally in regulation.

GOALIE SHUFFLE

Heading into Saturday, the Blackhawks have both regular netminders in COVID-19 protocol and unavailable for action. Marc-Andre Fleury was announced as being in protocol on Dec. 27 and Kevin Lankinen joined him in protocol on Friday, Dec. 31.
In their places, the Blackhawks have recalled Collin Delia and Arvid Soderblom to the active roster ahead of their trip to Nashville, while also signing Rockford IceHogs netminder Cale Morris to a one-year entry-level deal on Friday and assigning him to the team's taxi squad.
Delia has appeared in 10 games with Rockford this year and allowed just one goal in each of his last two starts with the IceHogs. Soderblom, playing in his first professional season in North America, has posted a 4-5-0 record with a .915 save percentage in nine games with Rockford during the 2021-22 campaign. His save percentage shares sixth among qualified AHL rookie netminders.
Morris, 25, is 1-0-0 in two contests this season with Rockford, registering a 1.64 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. Morris has also appeared in 14 games this year with the Indy Fuel of the East Coast Hockey League, posting a 6-5-1 record with a 2.82 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and one shutout. Last season, Morris made his professional hockey debut with the IceHogs, going 2-3-0 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .923 save percentage, leading the club in both categories. He played four years at the University of Notre Dame from 2016-20, compiling a 58-35-11 record in 106 games with a 2.18 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and 11 shutouts.

CAT ATTACK

Dating back to the beginning of last season, DeBrincat has 49 goals over his last 82 games played. That goal total is fourth most in the NHL. DeBrincat's career high over an 82-game individual season came during his second year in the league when he scored 41 markers during the 2018-19 campaign.
He posted two power-play markers against the Capitals on Dec. 15 for his 22nd career multi-goal game. DeBrincat shares 8th in the league with 17 goals this season.
Since the 2018-19 season, the Farmington Hills, Michigan native paces the NHL with seven goals in overtime. Since he debuted during the 2017-18 season, his 135 markers shares 10th among all skaters.

KUBY CASHING IN

With a marker on Dec. 18 in Dallas, Dominik Kubalik extended his current point streak (2G, 2A) to a season-long four games.