NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with the Wednesday Night Hockey matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
After a losing six straight games (0-5-1) in December, Nashville has rebounded with a five-game point streak (4-0-1) since New Year’s Eve. Their latest win was an impressive 4-0 victory over the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Monday. Rinne had 18 saves in his third shutout of the season.
Filip Forsberg returned to the lineup on Monday after missing 17 games with an upper-body injury. The team was 8-7-2 without him. Monday was Nashville’s first game since Nov. 10 with Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and P.K. Subban all in the lineup.
The Blackhawks have climbed out of the basement of the NHL by going 7-4-2 since mid- December, but still have several teams to leapfrog if they want to make the playoffs. Still, they have become a tough out, as evidenced by their 4-3 loss to the Conference-leading Flames on Monday.
Patrick Kane has been red hot with 19 points (9G, 10A) in his last 11 games. He also has had multi-point games in four of his last six games. Jonathan Toews had a six-game point streak snapped on Monday, but still has 39 points (17G, 22A) in 45 games overall. Toews is on pace for 71 points and 30 goals, which would be his most productive season since 2010-11.
[WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 7 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks
Where: United Center
When: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: You can watch the Predators-Blackhawks stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
[P.K. Subban sends inspirational message to young fan after racist taunts]
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BLACKHAWKS
Alex DeBrincat - Jonathan Toews - Dominik Kahun
Artem Anisimov - Dylan Strome - Patrick Kane
Brandon Saad- David Kampf - Drake Caggiula
John Hayden - Marcus Kruger - Brendan Perlini
Duncan Keith - Erik Gustafsson
Carl Dahlstrom - Connor Murphy
Brandon Davidson - Henri Jokiharju
Starting goalie: Collin Delia
PREDATORS
Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala - Colton Sissons - Craig Smith
Calle Jarnkrok - Nick Bonino - Austin Watson
Ryan Hartman - Frederick Gaudreau - Rocco Grimaldi
Roman Josi - Ryan Ellis
P.K. Subban- Mattias Ekholm
Matt Irwin - Dan Hamhuis
Starting goalie: Pekka Rinne
Six-time Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk, and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call from United Center. Kathryn Tappen hosts NHL Live alongside analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones, as well as NHL insider Bob McKenzie.