Blackhawks at Predators preview
Duchene expected back in Nashville lineup; Lehner to start for Chicago
by Robby Stanley / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
BLACKHAWKS (3-5-2) at PREDATORS (7-3-1)
8 p.m. ET; FS-TN, NBCSCH, NHL.TV
The Game
Matt Duchene is expected to return to the lineup for the Nashville Predators when they play the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.
The forward missed a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday with a lower-body injury. Forward Filip Forsberg, who has missed five games with a lower-body injury, took part in the morning skate but is not expected to play.
Nashville is eyeing its fourth straight victory; it has outscored opponents 13-3 in three straight wins.
Robin Lehner will start in goal for the Blackhawks and play his 100th NHL game. He is 2-1-2 with a 2.16 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in five starts for Chicago, which is 1-3-1 in its past four games.
Players to watch
Blackhawks forward Dylan Strome had three points (two goals, one assist) in a 5-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, who will start, is 6-0-1 with a 1.98 GAA, .931 save percentage and one shutout in seven starts this season.
They said it
"There's been some ups and downs. We've kind of battled through adversity here, and I think we're starting to learn how to play the way we want to, the way the coaching staff wants us to play. Hopefully we can go on a big run here and there's a lot of success right around the corner." -- Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane
"It's obviously frustrating. You want to play. You want to play hockey. That's why I'm here, is to help the team. But at the same time you can't let it take over. You've just got to try to work hard and get back out there." -- Predators forward Filip Forsberg
Blackhawks projected lineup
Alex DeBrincat -- Jonathan Toews -- Patrick Kane
Dominik Kubalik -- David Kampf -- Alex Nylander
Brandon Saad -- Kirby Dach -- Andrew Shaw
Drake Caggiula -- Ryan Carpenter -- Dylan Strome
Duncan Keith -- Calvin de Haan
Olli Maatta -- Dennis Gilbert
Slater Koekkoek -- Erik Gustafsson
Robin Lehner
Corey Crawford
Scratched: Zack Smith, Brent Seabrook
Injured: Connor Murphy (groin)
Predators projected lineup
Calle Jarnkrok -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Mikael Granlund -- Kyle Turris -- Matt Duchene
Rocco Grimaldi -- Nick Bonino -- Craig Smith
Miikka Salomaki -- Colton Sissons -- Austin Watson
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- Dante Fabbro
Dan Hamhuis -- Matt Irwin
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Yannick Weber, Colin Blackwell
Injured: Filip Forsberg (lower body)
Status report
Seabrook will be scratched for the second consecutive game. … The Predators held an optional morning skate.
Stat pack
Kane has 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists) in 61 games against Nashville. … Duchene has 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 36 games against Chicago. … Josi has seven points (three goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak. … Ellis has 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in his past seven games.