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Predators are really starting to knock on Blackhawks’ door

Paul Gaustad, Andrew Desjardins

Nashville Predators center Paul Gaustad (28) fights with Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andrew Desjardins (11) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

AP

The Nashville Predators might not be content with being the team that seems too good to be in a wild card spot.

They’re about as hot as the Chicago Blackhawks are cold right now, and with Thursday’s comeback win against the Vancouver Canucks (3-2 via a shootout), there isn’t much separating these two teams.

OK, to be more precise, the Blackhawks are only ahead of the Predators by two standings points, although Chicago also holds tiebreaker edges.

Chicago: 42-25-7 for 91 points in 74 games played (41 ROW)
Nashville: 38-23-13 for 89 points in 74 GP (34 ROW)

The Blackhawks would scare the West’s second seed more than the Predators based on their robust run of titles, but Nashville’s hot enough that they’re not exactly a pleasant matchup, either:

If Nashville aims to eclipse Chicago, this might be the time to do it. The Blackhawks are about to enter a four-game road trip that could be a challenge for a struggling group.

The two teams don’t have any head-to-head matchups remaining, and Predators fans might say that Chicago should be glad.