The Chicago Blackhawks will face Central Division foe Nashville in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Dates and times have not yet been announced.
It’s the third time Chicago and Nashville will meet in the conference quarterfinals. Chicago won the previous two postseason series 4-2 in 2010 and 2015. Both years the Hawks went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Hawks have only dropped one home playoff game to Nashville — Game 1 of the 2010 series.
Chicago won the 2016-17 regular-season series against Nashville, 4-1. The Hawks dropped their season opener, 3-2, to Nashville before rattling off four straight against the Predators.
2016-2017 regular-season series
Oct. 14: Nashville 3, Chicago 2
Oct. 15: Chicago 5, Nashville 3
Dec. 29: Chicago 3, Nashville 2
Jan. 8: Chicago 5, Nashville 2
March 4: Chicago 5, Nashville 3
Richard Panik and rookie Ryan Hartman each recorded a hat trick in the season series.
Corey Crawford went 3-1 this season against Nashville while Predators starter Pekka Rinne was 1-2. Nashville backups Marek Mazanec and Juuse Saros each allowed five goals in a loss.
It’s Nashville’s 10th postseason appearance in franchise history dating back to the 1998-99 season. The Predators have won three playoff series — all in the first round — including two against Anaheim (2011, 2016) and one over Detroit (2012).
The Hawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, and have reached the Western Conference Final in five of the last eight seasons, including three straight from 2013-15. Chicago lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2011, 2012 and 2016.