Playoff Primer: Predators-Blackhawks a rematch five years in the making
In seven different trips to the postseason, Nashville found itself exiting early five times after the first round.
No loss stung more than the one to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
The Predators entered a critical game five against Chicago tied at two games apiece, trying to accomplish a handful of franchise firsts. A boarding call on Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa handed the Predators a five-minute power play with a 4-3 lead and only 1:03 left on the clock.
Unthinkably, Patrick Kane slipped in the tying goal with 13.6 seconds left and Hossa would end game five 10 seconds after he left the box in overtime. Nashville would lose the series in six games.
Five years later, the Predators will have a chance to exorcise one of their most painful memories.
Will this year be any different or will Nashville be doomed to repeat mistakes of the past?
Players to Watch
Pekka Rinne -- Goaltender, Nashville Predators
Rinne has increasingly struggled for Nashville with the season winding down -- something that Predators coaches have to be concerned about. The Blackhawks eat up and spit out average goaltending like no other team in the league.
In three games against Chicago this season, Rinne allowed eight goals on 104 shots faced. Two of the three ended in losses.
Having not faced them since late December, Rinne will have to be lights out. If he can't find the same gear that earned him plenty of Vezina talk early in the season, the Predators will have a sour end to a promising season.
Marian Hossa -- Forward, Chicago Blackhawks
For a player as critical to the Blackhawks as Hossa is, he'll need his offensive talents to show up for Chicago in their first round matchup against Nashville. Hossa ended the season with one goal in his last 13 games.
Granted, he tallied seven helpers in the same span, but Hossa's 22 goals have him sitting fourth on the Blackhawks roster -- being only one of four players to net 20 or more goals for Chicago this season.
With Patrick Kane still on the mend going into the start of the postseason, Chicago will have to rely on one of their top goal scorers to actually score goals.
Colin Wilson -- Forward, Nashville Predators
Just like in the case of Hossa, one of the Predators best scorers fell dormant and they suffered without his help.
Since Feb. 19th, Wilson registered four points in Nashville's final 23 games of the regular season. This coming from a player that had 38 in his previous 59.
Including the game against the Islanders on the 19th, Nashville has combined for a record of 8-13-4.
Coincidence? Not really. The Predators heavily relied on Wilson's scoring through the first three-quarters of the season, so much that he found himself on the top line before his slump.
His presence is needed in a big way for Nashville. With many others struggling as well, it's time Wilson breaks out of his cold streak.
Defining Storylines
Nashville's power play unit may not have been the best this season, but Chicago has been nearly as bad. Both teams are struggling to find any type of success on special teams.
The Predators finished the regular season with three goals in their final 25 power plays. Chicago? Exactly the same.
Power play chances are going to be at a premium with both teams in the top five of the NHL in average penalty minutes per game. Whichever team capitalizes could find themselves on the winning side of the handshake line when the dust settles.
Nashville hasn't experienced the playoffs without Barry Trotz at the helm. This will be the first chance for the Predators to see what life is like in a series without him.
That may not be a bad thing.
Trotz ended his tenure with 19 wins in 40 career playoff games for Nashville -- including only two series wins in his nine attempts.
Laviolette, on the other hand, has 43 wins in 82 games and two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals. One of those ended with his 2006 Carolina Hurricanes winning it all.
He has the experience and knows what it takes to win a Cup. Who knows what he can deliver for Nashville this year.
Just like any playoff series, momentum swings are killer for either side. Five years ago, the Predators learned that the hard way after a heartbreaking game five loss led to another heartbreaking loss in game six.
This year, it could be even more important.
A late goal in regulation to tie or win it? A goaltender or defensive stop on a breakaway or odd-man rush? Nashville and Chicago are capable of both.
Anytime these two teams get together, it's a recipe for exciting back and forth hockey that seems to end with late dramatics. It's been that way since the last playoff series. Don't expect it to change now.
Series Prediction
This was a tough one to predict. Chicago leaves one with more confidence in its ability to grab a seven game series than Nashville.
While the playoffs are a different beast entirely, I think the Predators may have exhausted the majority of their luck about six weeks ago. Chicago in seven.
