Blackhawks @ Predators

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Blackhawks (9-12-5)

@ Nashville Predators (17-8-1)

Starting Goalies:

Cam Ward (CHI): Confirmed

Pekka Rinne (NSH): Likely

Current odds:

Chicago Blackhawks: (+190)

Nashville Predators: (-230)

• The Nashville Predators have struggled to put the puck in the net of late while the Chicago Blackhawks generously have been allowing opponents to do precisely that at an alarming rate. The Central Division rivals will look to change the narrative at the other’s expense on Saturday when they meet at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Nashville found itself shut out for the second time this season in a 3-0 setback to Adin Hill and Arizona on Thursday, falling to 1-2-0 on its season-high five-game homestand while mustering just 27 goals in its last 10 contests (4-5-1).

• While that may be true of the Predators, the Blackhawks are mired in a full-blown disaster as they’ve seen their goals-against average balloon to an NHL second-worst 3.65 per game following a 3-10-3 mark in their last 16 contests. “This hasn’t been good enough and it’s not OK,” Chicago forward Marcus Kruger said after Thursday’s 6-5 setback in Winnipeg. “I think we’re all sick of losing here. We just got to be better.”

• Patrick Kane boosted his team-leading assist (16) and point (29) totals by setting up a goal against the Jets to push his point streak to three games (one goal, three assists). Alex DeBrincat also had an assist to give him at least a point in four straight contests (one goal, three assists). While the offensive production has been nice, Corey Crawford hasn’t been too stingy of late as he has surrendered six goals in back-to-back outings and 20 during his four-game losing skid, although he turned aside 65 of 68 shots to split a pair of encounters with the Predators in 2017-18.

•  Pekka Rinne has yielded three goals on 25 shots in back-to-back outings to see his NHL-leading goals-against average elevate to a still-slim 1.85 this season. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner aims to get back on track versus Chicago, against which he turned aside 113 of 118 shots to post a 2-0-1 mark in last season’s series. Filip Forsberg leads the team in goals (14) and points (22), although he has just two and four, respectively, in his last eight games.

• Chicago captain Jonathan Toews has scored eight of his 11 goals on the road this season.

• Nashville C Ryan Johansen (club-best 17 assists) has been held off the scoresheet in six of his last eight contests.

• Blackhawks C Artem Anisimov has four (two goals, two assists) of his 13 points in the last five games.