NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Here is what to watch for when the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators play in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series at Bridgestone Arena on Friday:
• The Blackhawks won Game 1 in double-overtime and gained home-ice advantage for the series. The Predators took a 3-0 lead in the first period, and the Blackhawks answered with three goals in the second period. Duncan Keith scored the winner.
• Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford was pulled from Game 1 after allowing three goals on 12 shots. Scott Darling replaced him and stopped all 42 shots he faced. Crawford will start Game 2. Pekka Rinne will start for the Predators.
• The Predators are on a seven-game losing streak. They dropped their last six regular-season games and have been outscored 12-1 in the second period during the streak.
• The Blackhawks are 9-11 on the road in the playoffs the past three seasons.
• Predators center Mike Fisher is not expected to play in Game 2 due to a lower-body injury. He left Game 1 because of the injury.
• The Predators’ lines are expected to be Filip Forsberg – Mike Ribeiro – Craig Smith; Colin Wilson – Matt Cullen – James Neal; Mike Santorelli – Calle Jarnkrok – Viktor Stalberg; and Gabriel Bourque – Paul Gaustad – Taylor Beck.
The defenseman pairings are expected to be Roman Josi – Shea Weber; Cody Franson – Seth Jones; and Mattias Ekholm – Ryan Ellis.
• The Blackhawks’ lines are expected to be Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa; Kris Versteeg – Brad Richards – Patrick Kane; Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Patrick Sharp; and Joakim Nordstrom – Marcus Kruger – Teuvo Teravainen.
The defenseman pairings are expected to be Duncan Keith – Michal Rozsival; Johnny Oduya – Brent Seabrook; and Kimmo Timonen – Niklas Hjalmarsson.
• There were 12 penalties called in Game 1. The Blackhawks scored two power-play goals, and the Predators scored one. The Predators won 54 of 88 faceoffs. Gaustad won 20-of-27.
