Primer: The Predators have not made the playoffs the last two years, while the Blackhawks are a perennial playoff team and won the Stanley Cup in 2010 and 2013. Nashville will have to be aggre sive against a Chicago defense that allowed more than 30 shots per game, Dereck Rodriguez Jersey but owns the leagues second-best goals-against average at 2.26. Chicago won the season series, butthe two teams have not played since Dec. 29.

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Schedule/TV (All times ET; * if nece sary)

Blackhawks lead series 3-2

April 15: Blackhawks 4, Predators 3 2OTApril 17, Predators 6, Blackhawks 2April 19, Blackhawks 4, Predators 2April 21, Blackhawks 4, Predators 3 OTApril 23, April 25, at Chicago, 8 p.m. TV:NBC, SN, TVA2*April 27, at Nashville, TBD

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Season series: 3-1 Blackhawks

Injuries:Predators defensemen Shea Weber (lower body), Roman Josi (lower body) and Cody Franson (upper body) and forward Mike Fisher (lower body) all sat out Nashville's regular-season in Dallas. Fisher and Franson didnt practice Friday, and Fisher mi sed Thursdays lo s to the Wild.

Chicagos Patrick Kane is since breaking his collarbone on Feb. 24. If the Blackhawks get him back, it will be a big boost to the offense.Chicagos Daniel Carcillo, Kimmo Timonen and Brad Richards are all nursing minor upper-body ailments. Dave Dravecky Jersey

Key players: If the Predators can get past the playoff-hardened Blackhawks, it may just be a result of their excellent scoring defensemen. Weber and Josi are perhaps the best scoring tandem on defense in the league, Gregor Blanco Jersey combining for 30 goals and 100 points this season. If the Blackhawks can get Kane back, it will take some of the pre sure off center Jonathan Toews, who led Chicago with 28 goals and 66 points. Kane was leading the league with 64 points at the time of his injury.

Goalie matchup: Pekka Rinne is a huge reason Nashville Stephen Vogt Jersey had 104 points this season. The Finnish goaltender tied for second with 41 wins to go with a 2.18 goals-against-average. Corey Crawford was also among the league leaders with a GAA of 2.27 and a save percentage of .924.

Prediction: Blackhawks in 7