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PredDave · December 20th, 2006, 10:39 AM

GAMEDAY: Preds at Blackhawks, 7:30PM
December 20, 2006

The Nashville Predators will be looking to exact some revenge on the Chicago Blackhawks when the two Central Division rivals meet tonight at the United Center. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT and the action will be broadcast on WGFX 104.5-FM.

It will be the fourth meeting of the season between the clubs, who will face off a total of eight times in 2006-07. Nashville is 0-2-1 so far against the Hawks. The two regulation losses came during the first three games of the season. Nashville lost the season opener at home to the Blackhawks 8-6 on Oct. 5, then lost a 3-1 decision in Chicago on Oct. 12. The most recent game, played at the GEC on Dec. 2, was a 4-3 overtime defeat for the Predators.

"Early in the season we just didn't have our game," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said. "So I take those two games and throw them out the door. The first game [Predators goaltender] Tomas [Vokoun] wasn't real good and we weren't playing the way we should have, and then we were still a little bit on our heels when we went in there for Game 3."

Nashville (22-8-3) has posted a record of 22-5-3 since the Oct. 12 loss in Chicago. Wingers Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan are tied for the team lead in points with 32 and goaltender Chris Mason is 8-3-1 while starting the last 12 straight games for the Predators.

Chicago (14-13-5) has been getting its own stellar goaltending. Nikolai Khabibulin is 7-1-2 in his last 10 starts, with a 1.97 goals against average and a .929 save percentage over that span. The Blackhawks, who replaced head coach Trent Yawney with NHL Hall of Famer Denis Savard on Nov. 29, have captured at least one point in 10 of their last 11 games, going 7-1-3. Forward Martin Havlat, a key off-season trade acquisition, has been an offensive force despite missing 19 games with an ankle sprain. He has accumulated 22 points (11g-11a) in 13 games. A number of injuries this season have prompted the club to promote a variety of young, fast skaters--a move that seems to be paying off.

"They're a real good team right now," Trotz said. "The biggest thing to me is they've got real good goaltending. Last year I thought Chicago was going to be a good team. They had a lot of injuries. Those injuries never really came back for them. They fell behind and weren't getting goaltending. This year they're getting goaltending."

December 20th, 2006, 10:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
PredDave Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 832	GAMEDAY: Preds at Blackhawks, 7:30PM December 20, 2006 The Nashville Predators will be looking to exact some revenge on the Chicago Blackhawks when the two Central Division rivals meet tonight at the United Center. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT and the action will be broadcast on WGFX 104.5-FM. It will be the fourth meeting of the season between the clubs, who will face off a total of eight times in 2006-07. Nashville is 0-2-1 so far against the Hawks. The two regulation losses came during the first three games of the season. Nashville lost the season opener at home to the Blackhawks 8-6 on Oct. 5, then lost a 3-1 decision in Chicago on Oct. 12. The most recent game, played at the GEC on Dec. 2, was a 4-3 overtime defeat for the Predators. "Early in the season we just didn't have our game," Predators head coach Barry Trotz said. "So I take those two games and throw them out the door. The first game [Predators goaltender] Tomas [Vokoun] wasn't real good and we weren't playing the way we should have, and then we were still a little bit on our heels when we went in there for Game 3." Nashville (22-8-3) has posted a record of 22-5-3 since the Oct. 12 loss in Chicago. Wingers Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan are tied for the team lead in points with 32 and goaltender Chris Mason is 8-3-1 while starting the last 12 straight games for the Predators. Chicago (14-13-5) has been getting its own stellar goaltending. Nikolai Khabibulin is 7-1-2 in his last 10 starts, with a 1.97 goals against average and a .929 save percentage over that span. The Blackhawks, who replaced head coach Trent Yawney with NHL Hall of Famer Denis Savard on Nov. 29, have captured at least one point in 10 of their last 11 games, going 7-1-3. Forward Martin Havlat, a key off-season trade acquisition, has been an offensive force despite missing 19 games with an ankle sprain. He has accumulated 22 points (11g-11a) in 13 games. A number of injuries this season have prompted the club to promote a variety of young, fast skaters--a move that seems to be paying off. "They're a real good team right now," Trotz said. "The biggest thing to me is they've got real good goaltending. Last year I thought Chicago was going to be a good team. They had a lot of injuries. Those injuries never really came back for them. They fell behind and weren't getting goaltending. This year they're getting goaltending."