Chicago Blackhawks Fall to Nashville Predators in Game 1: Recap, Highlights, More
The Chicago Blackhawks fall short in game one against Nashville.
94. Final. 1. 151. 0
The Chicago Blackhawks just could not generate any offense at all. They had many scoring chances but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Nashville played a very good game and that was led by their star goaltender Pena Rinne. Rinne would be lights out in net for the Predators, stopping every shot he faced.
It’s not often that we are the Blackhawks lose a playoff game at home and tonight was kind of a shocker. Chicago is hands down the better team on the ice, but they just could not find a way to score. The chances were there, Rinne just stopped all them.
Highlights
The Nashville Predators strike first in their series with the Blackhawks thanks to Viktor Arvidsson. pic.twitter.com/tqyM6NQZsc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 14, 2017
#Blackhawks can't convert on the power play after this dirty play by Arvidsson. pic.twitter.com/f6ntOe5Dug
— ✶ Sports Mockery ✶ (@sportsmockery) April 14, 2017
The Blackhawks now find themselves in an unknown territory being down 0-1 in a series and losing on home ice. For the Hawks to win this series, they are going to need to figure out how to beat Rinne and get the puck in the net. Nashville isn’t going to go away quietly, they would love nothing more than to be the team that eliminates the Hawks from playoff contention.
Chicago must come out to play Saturday night in game two and tie the series up. Going down 2-0 and then traveling to Nashville is as close to a death sentence as there is.
I am still confident that the Chicago Blackhawks are the better team in this series and will find a way to even up the series Saturday night. I personally would like to see the Blackhawks come out and play a physical game against Nashville in game two.
Next: Blackhawks: Complete Postseason Preview
Nashville is a big team and they are gonna hit the Blackhawks. The Hawks need to respond with physicality themselves and show the Predators they are not scared.
There’s not much more to say following a loss like that. The Blackhawks have their work cut out for them now, but there is no reason to panic just yet. Chicago is a winning team and they know what it takes to win in the playoffs, this series is far from over and I expect to see the Hawks come out in game two and send a message to Nashville.