Zawaski: Blackhawks-Predators Preview
By Jay Zawaski--
(CBS) After 82 laborious regular-season games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have finally arrived. The Blackhawks will open the first round against the Predators with Game 1 in Nashville on Wednesday evening.
These aren't your grandfather's Predators, however. First-year coach Peter Laviolette's system pushes the tempo and plays with an attacking mindset, a welcome change from Barry Trotz's trapping, defensive system of years past. Trotz milked more from those Nashville teams than many expected, but now Laviolette's armed with more offensive talent and the deepest defensive corps in the Western Conference. This series won't be a cakewalk for the Blackhawks, but they might be catching the Predators at just the right time.
For most of the regular season, the Predators were the Western Conference's best team. They seemed unbeatable at times and put together a run of 10 wins in 13 games during the month of February. Since then, they've come down to Earth, finishing the season 6-12-3 and 0-5-1 in their last six.
The two teams haven't met since Dec. 29, and while the Blackhawks have gone 3-1-0 in the season series, every game was incredibly close, both in the final score and the possession metrics.
Let's take a look.
Date Result CHI 5v5 Corsi (%) NSH 5v5 Corsi (%)
10/18 2-1 (OT) CHI 44 (56.2%) 39 (43.8%)
10/23 3-2 NSH 46 (48.9%) 48 (51.1%)
12/06 3-1 CHI 47 (48%) 51 (52%)
12/29 5-4 (SO) CHI 50 (53.8%) 43 (46.2%)
Now, let's break down the Predators.
Nashville's strengths
Goaltending: Pekka Rinne is one of the top two or three goalies in the league. Aside from Montreal's Carey Price and New York's Henrik Lundqvist, I'm not sure there's anyone better. Rinne is second in wins (41), third in goals against average (2.17) and eighth in save percentage (.923) this season. In 30 regular-season game against Chicago in his career, he's 13-11-4 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.54 GAA. In his one playoff series against the Blackhawks, Rinne went 2-4 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.68 GAA.
At 6-foot-5, 206 pounds, Rinne's a huge goaltender with lightning-fast reflexes. The Blackhawks must resist to shoot high on Rinne, whose glove hand it too quick. Chicago will find success shooting low and capitalizing on rebound opportunities.
Team defense: Getting to those rebounds that I mentioned will be Chicago's big challenge. Nothing will come easy against Nashville, which has the deepest defenseman corps in the Western Conference and features one of the league's best defensive duos in Shea Weber and Roman Josi. Weber's one of the best all-around defensemen in the game. With 15 goals and 30 assists, Weber's a special combination of power and finesse.
Josi's enjoying the best season of his career. He has 55 points in 81 games and has grown into a solid, consistent player. Add eventual superstar Seth Jones and deadline acquisition Cody Franson to the mix, and you have a reliable and talented defense.
Much like the Hawks' defensemen, the Predators pinch and try to create offense. Chicago will need to stay aware of a constantly moving and rotating offensive attack.
Up front, forwards like Matt Cullen, Matt Cullen and Paul Gaustad lead a solid group of defensive-minded forwards.
Nashville's weaknesses
Top-end scoring: Nashville's leading scorers are Filip Forsberg and Mike Ribeiro, who have 63 and 62 points, respectively. Forsberg's one of the best rookies in the game and will be a star for years to come. This is his first playoff series, though. He may find it harder to adjust at first, but rest assured that Forsberg will find his game before the series ends.
Ribeiro's career has been marred with disappointments and mental blunders on and off the ice. When he's right, he's absolutely electrifying. He can compete with the best centers in the game, but how long will he stay engaged? If Jonathan Toews is the matchup he draws, look for him to get frustrated early. It could lead to his disappearance in this series.
Down the depth chart, the group of Fisher, Craig Smith, Colin Wilson and James Neal can score, but none of these players are capable of carrying a team offensively.
Of the forwards mentioned, Neal's the player who should concern the Blackhawks the most. He has five goals in four games against Chicago this year and is the kind of physical power forward who can make a difference in a playoff series.
For maybe the first time in their history, there's actual pressure on the Predators to win this series. It will be interesting to see how they respond. Now, after one of their best regular seasons ever, they're tasked with taking down a Blackhawks team that's won two titles in the past five years.
Expectations have been raised in Nashville. The Predators have the pieces to beat the Blackhawks, but I still like Chicago, especially with Patrick Kane, to win this series in six games.
Jay Zawaski is the executive producer of the Spiegel and Goff Show on 670 The Score and the Blackhawks columnist for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayZawaski670.
Zawaski will be on the air after Games 1, 2 and 3 (and likely beyond). As soon as the final horn sounds, tune in to 670 the Score for full Blackhawks postgame coverage. If you missed Monday night's playoff hockey roundtable on the Laurence Holmes Show, check it out here.