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Coach Joel Quenneville announced Monday afternoon that goalie Scott Darling will get the start over Corey Crawford when the Chicago Blackhawks meet the Nashville Predators for Game 4 on Tuesday night at the United Center. Darling saved 35 of 37 shots in his last outing to earn another start in net.
The Hawks currently lead the series, 2-1, and have won both games that Darling appeared in. His postseason debut in Game 1 featured a record-setting 42 saves in 42 chances in relief of Corey Crawford as the Hawks rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Preds in overtime.
In front of Darling, Chicago's top line of Saad-Toews-Hossa put together a dominant performance in Game 3, together logging two goals and three primary assists. Another such showing tonight would help to ensure the Hawks return to Nashville ready to clinch the series.
The Blackhawks have allowed an average of 42 shots per game (including 2 OT periods) in this series, well above their season average of about 30 shots per game. It's time to bring that number down and take some pressure off of their goaltending.
Here were the lines at morning skate on Tuesday:
Saad-Toews-Hossa
Versteeg-Richards-Kane
Bickell-Vermette-Sharp
Desjardins-Kruger-Shaw
The defensive pairings will likely remain the same.
Likely scratches: Cumisky, Runblad, Paliotta, Nordstrom, Teravainen and Raanta
Opponent Breakdown: Nashville Predators
The Predators will again be without top defenseman Shea Weber, who did not travel with the team to Chicago after suffering a lower-body injury in the second period of Game 2. The Hawks took advantage Weber's absence to move the puck easily through the neutral zone on Sunday afternoon in a 4-2 win.
Nashville looks to continue to rely on its team speed to disrupt Chicago's desire for a more controlled game. The Preds' defensemen have regularly tried to be aggressive in creating opportunities for their teammates up the ice.
It is anticipated that Seth Jones will continue to be paired with Roman Josi on the top pairing as the Predators did in Game 3.
Mike Fisher, who took the ice for only one 30-second shift and then left the bench in Game 3, is questionable for Tuesday night.
Nashville lines (probable):
Forsberg-Ribeiro-Smith
Wilson-Cullen-Neal
Santorelli-Jarnkrok-Stalberg
Bourque-Gaustad-Beck
Injury report
Chicago: None
Nashville: Mike Fisher (lower-body, day-to-day), Shea Weber (lower-body, day-today) and Eric Nystrom (lower-body, day-to-day)
Game Information
When: 8:30 p.m. CT
Where: United Center
TV: NBCSN, CSN
Radio: WGN-720
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