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Blackhawks vs. Predators game preview 2016: Chicago looks to snap 3-game losing streak

Corey Crawford is expected to start in net for the Chicago Blackhawks when they visit the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.

The Hawks enter the game on a three-game losing streak following a 3-1 home loss Tuesday to Winnipeg. Chicago (22-10-5) did receive some good news Tuesday with the return of forward Artem Anisimov after missing three games with an upper-body injury. Anisimov scored the lone goal against the Jets. He has 15 goals and 13 assists this season.

Artemi Panarin, who signed a two-year contract extension reportedly worth $12 million Wednesday, recorded an assist on Anisimov’s goal to extend his career-long point streak to eight games. Panarin has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) during that stretch.

The Hawks will be without its leading goal scorer, Marian Hossa, who was retroactively placed on injured reserve on Tuesday but is hopeful to return for the Winter Classic on Jan. 2. It will be the third straight game Hossa will miss.

The Predators (15-13-6) will also be without a star player — P.K. Subban. The 27-year-old defenseman scored his first goal in a Predators’ sweater since being traded from Montreal in the team’s season-opening 3-2 home win over the Hawks. The Preds converted four of their eight power plays against the Hawks in two games this season, but they’ve only converted 1-for-10 in Subban’s absence.

Roman Josi and Mike Fisher have both scored and Ryan Johansen has three assists against the Hawks earlier this season. Johansen leads the Preds in scoring with 24 points and linemate Viktor Arvidsson ranks second on the team with 23 goals. Filip Forsberg, who led Nashville with 33 goals last season, struggled at the start of the season with only two goals in 27 games. But he’s found his stride lately with three goals in his last four outings to increase his point total to 20.

For more on the Predators, check out SB Nation’s On The Forecheck.

Lineups

Blackhawks

Forwards

Hartman-Toews-Motte
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Rasmussen-Kruger-Panik
Hinostroza-Kero-Tootoo

Defensemen

Keith-Hjalmarsson
Kempny-Seabrook
Forsling-Rozsival

Goalie

Corey Crawford

Predators

Forwards

Forsberg-Johansen-Arvidsson
Wilson-Fisher-Watson
Fiala-Ribeiro-Neal
Boucher-Jankrok-Smith

Defensemen

Josi-Ellis
Ekholm-Irwin
Pardy-Weber

Goalie

Rinne

How to watch: Blackhawks at Predators

Time: 7 p.m. CT

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville

TV: CSN

Live Stream: CSNChicago.com

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