The Nashville Predators (30-23-6, 66 points, 5th Central) are on the road Saturday with a visit to Central division rival the Chicago Blackhawks (21-35, 47 points, 8th Central). Nashville defeated the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Thursday night with Kevin Lankinen making 30 saves. The Predators are seven points behind third place in the division, which is the last automatic spot to qualify for the postseason. Chicago was defeated by the Dallas Stars 5-2 on Thursday night for their third straight loss. Chicago is out of playoff contention.
The Nashville Predators are battling for a postseason berth and are just seven points behind the third and final automatic qualifying spot in the Central Division. Nashville has made several moves prior to the trade deadline acquiring five players and nine draft picks, while trading away five players and one draft pick with the most notables being traded away Mattias Ekholm, Tanner Jeannot, Mikael Granlund and Nino Neiderreiter. Defensemen Cal Foote and Tyson Barrie will have the biggest immediate impact for Nashville.
Nashville is scoring an average of 2.85 goals per game which is 25th in the NHL, while the Predators are allowing an average of 2.86 goals per game which is 12th best. Nashville averages 30.5 shots per game and allows an average of 33.6 shots per game which are 21st and 26th respectively. Nashville&# 39;s power play is scoring.18.9% of the time the Predators have the man advantage which is 25th, while the penalty kill unit successfully holds opponents scoreless 81.0% of the time Nashville is shorthanded which is 13th. The leading goal scorers for Nashville are Matt Duchesne and Filip Forsberg with 19 goals apiece. The leader in assists is Roman Josi with 39 and Duchene has 31. Josi is the points leader with 56 Duchene has 50.
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