The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Nashville Predators Friday night at the United Center. This is the second meeting between the Hawks and Predators so far in this early season, with Chicago earning a 2-1 overtime victory over Nashville just two weeks ago.
Chicago will be looking to find its rhythm on Friday, as it takes to the ice with new line combinations after coach Joel Quenneville gave the lines a proper shake up at practice Thursday morning. It may be early in the season, but with three losses in their last four games, Quenneville decided to change things up, which included separating his top defensive pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Keith was paired with Jan Rutta at practice, while Seabrook skated with Gustav Forsling.
The offensive lines also received some changes on Thursday, with rookie Alex DeBrincat getting his chance to skate on the first line alongside Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad.
Nashville has also had an average start to the season, with a 4-3-2 record so far through nine games, putting it in fifth in the Central Division.
Pekka Rinne is likely to get the start for Nashville on Friday. Through seven starts this season, Rinne has a 4-1-2 record, and boasts a goals against average of 1.99 and .933 save percentage.
Crawford will start in net for Chicago, looking for his sixth win of the season. Through eight games played, Crawford holds a 2.13 goals against average and .937 save percentage.
Here’s hoping these line changes can get the offense going tonight. Oh, and getting a second straight win over the Preds this season wouldn’t be so bad, either.
Projected lineups
Blackhawks
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| F1 | Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Alex DeBrincat |
| F2 | Richard Panik – Nick Schmaltz – Patrick Kane |
| F3 | Patrick Sharp – Artem Anisimov – John Hayden |
| F4 | Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – Ryan Hartman |
| D1 | Duncan Keith – Jan Rutta |
| D2 | Gustav Forsling – Brent Seabrook |
| D3 | Michal Kempny – Connor Murphy |
| Goaltender | Corey Crawford |
Avalanche
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| F1 | Sven Andrighetto – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen |
| F2 | Gabriel Landeskog – Matt Duchene – Nail Yakupov |
| F3 | Matthew Nieto – Carl Soderberg – Blake Comeau |
| F4 | A.J. Greer – Alexander Kerfoot – Rocco Grimaldi |
| D1 | Anton Lindholm – Erik Johnson |
| D2 | Patrik Nemeth – Tyson Barrie |
| D3 | Mark Barberio – Andrei Mironov |
| Goaltender | Jonathan Bernier |
How to watch Blackhawks vs Predators
Start time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: United Center, Chicago
TV: NBC Sports Chicago