Chicago dogs Preds
Nashville can't defeat Blackhawks these days
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....612200444/1028
It used to be that when the Predators played the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville couldn't lose. Now the Predators can't do anything but.
Despite winning six of eight contests against Chicago in 2005-06, the Predators are 0-3 against the Blackhawks this season, including a 4-3 overtime defeat in the Windy City on Dec. 2.
Now, as the teams ready for their fourth bout, at 7:30 p.m. today in Chicago, it seems that collecting that elusive win could prove even more difficult.
Although the Blackhawks dropped 10 of their first 14 contests, they since have gone 7-1-3 and now sit in third place in the Central Division behind Detroit and leader Nashville.
"They are full of confidence," Predators right wing J.P. Dumont said. "They know they beat us three times, and we are first in the division. So it's a big game."
New Blackhawks Coach Denis Savard has focused on playing a faster-paced game, much like the Predators. To that end, he has brought in right winger Peter Bondra, who has a goal and an assist in his first two games with Chicago.
In addition, the team is celebrating the return of Martin Havlat, who was the NHL's leading scorer before suffering an ankle injury in October.
So the question is if the Predators couldn't beat Chicago before, how — as the Blackhawks show continued improvement — are they going to beat them now?