Chicago at Nashville

Only two points separated these outstanding teams during the regular season. You need defense to contend on the road, especially in the playoffs, and Chicago is second in the NHL in goals allowed and #10 in penalty killing. They lost four in a row to end the regular season, but the real story is the team was trying to get healthy. And they got great news this week as after seven weeks off, Chicago right wing Patrick Kane has been cleared to play in Game One of the Western Conference First Round. Prior to the injury, Kane led the Blackhawks with 27 goals and 37 assists. His 64 points were tied for the NHL lead through 61 games, and he still finished second on the Blackhawks, two points back of captain Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks are 4-0 in their last four Conference Quarterfinals games. They take on a Nashville team that ended the regular season in worse shape, on a six-game skid. The problem is, Nashville was trying to win, a late season slide that they couldn't break out of. Nashville is 6-15 its last 21 games. The Predators are 0-4 against a team with a winning record and 0-8 vs. the Western Conference. Chicago has won the last two meetings, 3-1 and 5-4, the former a win at this rink as a +125 road dog. Take Chicago.