Blackhawks vs. Predators Game 2 preview: Crawford starts, Vermette sits again

Corey Crawford will get the start in net and Antoine Vermette will sit again when the Chicago Blackhawks look to take a 2-0 series lead against the Nashville Predators on Friday night at Bridgestone Arena.

A road team that goes up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series has won 85.9 percent of series, per Elias Sports.

Crawford was benched after allowing three goals in the first period, and Scott Darling stopped all 42 shots he faced in relief in a 4-3 double-overtime win for the Hawks to take Game 1. Hawks head coach Joel Quenneville said starting Crawford was a "no-brainer." Crawford was 32-20-5 in 57 games in the regular season and has plenty of playoff experience.

[MORE: Stanley Cup Playoffs: Full schedule for Blackhawks vs. Predators]

Darling wasn't the only one who made a strong impression in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut as rookie Teuvo Teravainen had the primary assist on Niklas Hjalmarsson's goal in the second period. Teravainen also had one shot on goal in 15:36 of ice time.

Despite going 34-of-88 on faceoffs (.386) in Game 1, with only Brad Richards (10-of-18) over .500 from the dot, Quenneville will have center Vermette be a healthy scratch.

[MORE: Joel Quenneville demonstrating poor judgement with handling of Antonie Vermette]

Here are the lines from Friday's "morning" skate:

Opponent Breakdown: Nashville Predators

It's likely the Preds will be without second-line center Mike Fisher, who left Game 1 early in the second period with a lower-body injury. Fisher did not participate in Friday's morning skate, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean.

Matt Cullen will slide into Fisher's role and Mike Santorelli, a healthy scratch Wednesday, is likely to move onto the third line with Calle Jarnkrok and Viktor Stalberg.

Since acquired Santorelli, he's posted four points (one goal, three assists) in 22 games for Nashville.

Nashville may have scored three goals in the first period, but they've struggled to hold their opponents at bay in the second period. The Preds have been outscored 17-3 over the past 10 games in the second period.

Rinne is 14-11-5 in 31 games against the Hawks with a 2.54 GAA and .918 save percentage. He went 1-1-1 in three games this season against Chicago.

Here are the lines from Friday's skate:

Injury Report

Chicago: None

Nashville: Mike Fisher (lower-body, day-to-day), Cody Franson (upper-body, day-to-day) and Eric Nystrom (lower-body, day-to-day)

Game Information

When: 8:30 p.m. CT

Where: Bridgestone Arena aka United Center South

TV: NBCSN, CSN

Radio: WGN-720

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