NHL - Playoffs - Round 1 - Chicago Blackhawks vs Nashville Predators - Preds Win Series 4-0

Game 1 - Thursday, April 13, 2017 - Hawks Lose 0-1

Pekka Rinne doesn't have great memories of playing the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the Nashville Predators created one at United Center. Rinne made 29 saves, and Viktor Arvidsson scored a first-period goal to give the Predators a 1-0 win against the Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round. It was Nashville's first road shutout in its nine-year playoff history. Rinne and the Predators have twice been eliminated in the first round by the Blackhawks (2010, 2015). The Blackhawks outshot Nashville 29-20, including 23-9 in last two periods. Corey Crawford made 19 saves for Chicago, which was shut out in a home playoff game for the first time since 2012 (April 23 against the Phoenix Coyotes, a 4-0 loss). The Blackhawks built a 5-1 edge in shots, but the Predators held them without one for the next 13:46. Arvidsson scored at 7:52, tipping a shot pass by Filip Forsberg past Crawford.

The Blackhawks had a 12-4 advantage in second-period shots and 11-5 in third. They failed to get a shot during a power play with 8:08 left in the third and failed to tie the game after pulling Crawford with 2:00 left.

* The Predators made the Blackhawks pay for a defensive miscue on Arvidsson's goal. Johansen got the puck from Arvidsson and drew three defenders to him before passing to Filip Forsberg, who sent the puck to Arvidsson.
"I figured Ryan would put it over there [to Forsberg]," Arvidsson said. "I just tried to get lost behind them, and [Forsberg] made a great shot-pass. I just tapped it in."

* Rinne kept it 1-0 at 4:24 of the third period by going left to right for a save at the left post, stopping a wraparound attempt by Patrick Kane. Anisimov got a shot off the rebound but missed wide to the far side.

* Nashville defenseman Roman Josi played a game-high 28:24 and led the Predators with five of their 26 blocked shots.
* Rinne's sprawling left-skate save against Anisimov kept the Blackhawks from tying the game with 8:15 left in the second period.
"Luckily it stayed on the ice, so it helps my job a little bit ... long legs and stuff," Rinne said. "I was able to reach it and got it away with my toe."
* Anisimov returned after missing the final 13 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. ... Predators forward Calle Jarnkrok returned after missing the regular-season finale with a lower-body injury. ... Predators forward Colin Wilson (lower body) missed his third straight game.

"We've just got to keep getting better in this series. That was a pretty good game by us, but we have better in us." Crawford said.
"We know it's going to be a long series. We knew we were not going to sweep them. It's a good hockey team. We just have to regroup." Niklas Hjalmarsson said.
"I don't think there's any excuse in the book that you can throw out there that would stand its ground. It's the first game of the playoffs. We should have a better start than we did tonight, but sometimes there's some nerves and you need to shake things off." Jonathan Toews said. 

Game 2 - Saturday, April 15, 2017 - Hawks Lose 0-5

The Nashville Predators added offense to their strong defense for a 5-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round at United Center. Following a 1-0, Game 1 win on Thursday, Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for a second straight shutout that gave the Predators a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Chicago has lost the first two games of a series at home for the first time in a streak of nine straight seasons in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Rinne had two assists, on goals by Harry Zolnierczyk at 2:51 of the second period and Ryan Johansen at 13:49 of the third. Zolnierczyk's goal on a breakaway made it 2-0, and Johansen made it 4-0, after Colton Sissons gave Nashville a 3-0 lead with 7:00 left in the second. Johansen had three points (one goal, two assists). He assisted on Ellis' goal and a power-play goal by Kevin Fiala at 18:13 of the third period that made it 5-0. Rinne made seven saves in the first period, 14 in the second and nine in the third for his third Stanley Cup Playoff shutout. Zolnierczyk, Ellis, Sissons and Fiala each scored his first NHL playoff goal. Corey Crawford allowed five goals on 29 shots for the Blackhawks, who haven't scored in the postseason since Andrew Shaw scored at 3:20 of the third period in a Game 7, first-round loss to the St. Louis Blues last year.

* Ellis' initial shot attempt from the point was blocked by Richard Panik, but the puck came right back for a second shot that beat Crawford through traffic.

* Blackhawks rookie center Tanner Kero passed to Marcus Kruger from behind the Predators net, and Rinne sprawled to make a left-pad save on a quick wrist shot with 8:50 left in the third period.

"There were some unbelievable saves, especially in the third period, when the game is 3-0," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. "We know we are in a good spot, but the next goal is also a big goal in somebody's building."
* Predators defenseman Matt Irwin broke up a pass intended for Marian Hossa that would've created a breakaway at 2:03 of the second period. Zolnierczyk scored for Nashville 48 seconds later.
* Zolnierczyk took a stretch pass from Mattias Ekholm and beat Crawford with a wrist shot high to the glove side.
"I took a quick peek up and just kind of tried to shield the puck," Zolnierczyk said. "I cut in a little bit, and I just wanted to chip it up over his shoulder there. Luckily there was enough room to do that."
* Toews and Kane have one goal between them in Chicago's past nine playoff games. Toews hasn't scored in 11 straight postseason games, dating to the second period of Game 4 in the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kane scored in Game 5 against the Blues last year (April 21). ... Rinne is the first Predators goalie to have two assists in a playoff game and the first in the NHL since April 11, 2004 (Jose Theodore for the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... Predators forward Colin Wilson (lower body) missed his fourth straight game. ... Blackhawks rookie forward Vinnie Hinostroza didn't skate on a line during warmups but made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut and played 6:48 in place of Jordin Tootoo.

"They're doing everything defensively to frustrate us and give us nothing. It seems like we're trying to force plays that aren't there sometimes, and when they get their chances, they're taking advantage of our mistakes and it ends up in the back of our net." Jonathan Toews said.
"I haven't scored a goal in two games. Not acceptable. As an offensive guy, you pride yourself in that. I've got to be better personally." Patrick Kane said.

Game 3 - Monday, April 17, 2017 - Hawks Lose 2-3 OT

Kevin Fiala scored at 16:44 of overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round at Bridgestone Arena. Fiala deked around Corey Crawford and scored his second goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nashville has a 3-0 series lead for the first time in its history. Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators to make it 2-1 at 4:24 of the third period. The puck bounced off of the glass behind the net on a shot by Viktor Arvidsson and back into the slot, and Forsberg shot it past Crawford for his first goal. Forsberg tied the game 2-2 at 14:08 from the slot.

Dennis Rasmussen gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 1:05 of the second period on a backhand shot from in front of the net. Marcus Kruger made the pass from behind the net, and Rasmussen beat Pekka Rinne for Chicago's first goal of the 2017 playoffs. Rasmussen's goal ended Rinne's postseason shutout streak at 141:05. Patrick Kane gave the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead at 11:15 on the power play. He took a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Rinne for his first goal. It was Kane's 50th career NHL playoff goal. Crawford made 46 saves.

* Neal made a backhand pass to Fiala below the left faceoff circle, and he slid the puck past Crawford's glove on the backhand.

* Crawford made a toe save on Fiala at 13:56 of overtime on a shot from the slot. Neal passed the puck to Fiala in the slot, and Crawford reacted in time to get enough of the puck to keep it out of the net.

* Rinne made a breakaway save on Nick Schmaltz early in the third period to keep it 2-0. Schmaltz tried to beat Rinne on the forehand on the glove side, but Rinne made the save and moved the puck to P.K. Subban.

* Forsberg redirected a shot from the point from Ryan Ellis that Crawford saved. Forsberg gathered the rebound and moved the puck from his backhand to his forehand and beat Crawford.

* Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith had 32:27 of ice time. Kane had nine shots on goal and 12 shot attempts. Anisimov went 2-for-17 in the faceoff circle. … The Predators improved to 5-7 in overtime in the playoffs in their history. Nashville had 49 shots on goal and 94 shot attempts.

"We've got to make them realize that winning that fourth game is the toughest for any team in any series." Jonathan Toews said.
"It's tough right now. Let this one sting a little bit tonight. We have two [days] in between, so get rested, come back feeling good. Take it one at a time. I know that's cliché and things you have to say, but at the same time win one game. See what happens after that." Kane said.

Game 4 - Thursday, April 20, 2017 - Hawks Lose 1-4

The Nashville Predators completed the first Stanley Cup Playoff sweep in their history with a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators advanced to second round for the fourth time and will play either the St. Louis Blues or Minnesota Wild. Chicago clinched the top seed in the Western Conference on an off day April 1. The Blackhawks did not win another game, losing eight in a row (final four of regular season, four in playoffs). Predators goalie Pekka Rinne made 30 saves and allowed three goals in the series. He made 123 saves for an 0.70 goals-against average and .976 save percentage. Josi gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 9:41 of the second period on a one-timer from above the right faceoff circle. His shot got through traffic and beat Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford five-hole. Colton Sissons gave the Predators a 2-0 lead at 8:52 of the third period on a shot from the slot. It hit the post, bounced off Crawford's back and into the net. Josi gave the Predators a 3-0 lead at 10:21. Sissons took a pass from Austin Watson and slid the puck to Josi, who beat Crawford for his second goal of the playoffs. Jonathan Toews scored on the power play at 14:42 of the third period make it 3-1, before Viktor Arvidsson made it 4-1 on an empty-net goal with 1:48 left. St. Louis leads Minnesota 3-1 in their best-of-7 series with Game 5 on Saturday.

* Josi's second goal was a tic-tac-toe play he finished off a pass to Crawford's blocker side by Sissons. Josi joined the rush and beat Toews to the puck.

* Patrick Kane tried to beat Rinne through the five-hole from the left faceoff circle in the third period, but Rinne squeezed his pads in time and controlled the rebound. 

* Filip Forsberg blocked a shot attempt by Kane in the second period to prevent a goal into an open net and keep the score 1-0.
* The puck got caught in Crawford's pads on Sissons' goal and went into the net when Crawford moved laterally across the crease.
* The Blackhawks are the third team in NHL history to be swept in the first round of the playoffs after having the best record in their conference during the regular season (1981 Montreal Canadiens, by Edmonton Oilers in best-of-5 preliminary round; and 1993 Blackhawks, by St. Louis Blues in division semifinals), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 1993 series was the last time Chicago was swept. … Kane had an assist to finish with two points (one goal, one assist) in the series. He was tied for second in the NHL during the regular season (89 points).

"It's tough to lose a series and fall short. It's a whole different story to lose four straight and get swept like we did. I think we've got guys in this room that have experienced the highs of going all the way. I think aside from what it would feel like to miss the playoffs, especially with the potential in this room, this has to be the next worse feeling for sure." Jonathan Toews said.
"Give them credit. They played great. I still think we didn't push in a lot of areas. We could have had the puck a lot more in a lot of situations, lost lots of those 1-on-1 or those individual battles, relentless around the net, missing shots, missing pucks. I think that was contagious. We had to be better." Joel Quenneville said.