The Chicago Blackhawks will play the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Blackhawks entered the final day of the regular-season with their first-round opponent unknown. The Blackhawks locked into playing the Predators and into the third place in the Central Division when the St. Louis Blues defeated the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon.
The Wild needed to defeat the Blues to give themselves a chance at overtaking the Blackhawks and grabbing the third spot in the Central
The Predators will have home-ice advantage against the Blackhawks and the series will begin in Nashville next week. The schedule is expected to be announced late Saturday night.
The Hawks and Predators have met four times this season. The Hawks defeated the Predators 2-1 in overtime in Chicago on Oct. 18, 3-1 in Nashville on Dec. 6 and 5-4 in a shootout in Chicago on Dec. 29. The Predators defeated the Hawks 3-2 in the Music City on Oct. 23.
The Blues clinched the Central earlier this week and finished the season with 109 points. The Predators will finish second and have 104 points prior to their game against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.
The Hawks have 102 points and close out the regular-season against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.
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