NBCSN’s coverage of the 2020-21 NHL season continues with Wednesday’s matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
Tonight marks the second game of a back-to-back series between Chicago and Nashville. The Predators defeated the Blackhawks 3-2 in OT last night behind Roman Josi’s first goal of the season, while Pekka Rinne stopped 18 of 20 shots faced to help preserve the win.
On Monday, the NHL announced that forward Alex DeBrincat and defensemen Adam Boqvist have been added to the league’s COVID-19 Protocol List. Neither player played on Tuesday and they will not be available for practices, travel or games until removed from the list. DeBrincat is second on the team in scoring with six points (2G, 4A). Boqvist has three assists in six games this season.
While Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is currently sidelined with a health issue, Patrick Kane has been leading by example. The 2016 Hart and Ross Trophy winner has a team-high seven points (3G, 4A), but snapped a five-game point streak in last night’s loss.
For the first time since March 2020, fans were allowed back in Bridgestone Arena last night to cheer on the Predators. Nashville did not announce how many fans were in attendance during last night’s win but said a couple hundred were sold to season-ticket holders and a couple hundred more people (families and guests of players) were also there. Prior to yesterday, the Predators were not allowing fans at home games despite receiving approval for 15% capacity from the Metro Public Health Department. Instead, the franchise wanted to ensure proper protocols were in place before a limited crowd was allowed.
[COVERAGE BEGINS AT 6:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN]
WHAT: Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators WHERE: Bridgestone Arena WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m. ET TV: NBCSN ON THE CALL: John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk LIVE STREAM: You can watch the Blackhawks-Predators stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BLACKHAWKS Mattias Janmark - Pius Suter - Patrick Kane Dominik Kubalik - Dylan Strome - Philipp Kurashev Matthew Highmore - Carl Soderberg - Andrew Shaw Brandon Hagel - David Kampf - Ryan Carpenter
Nikita Zadorov - Connor Murphy Duncan Keith - Lucas Carlsson Calvin de Haan - Ian Mitchell
Starting goalie: Kevin Lankinen
PREDATORS Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson Mikael Granlund - Matt Duchene - Luke Kunin Colton Sissons - Erik Haula - Nick Cousins Yakov Trenin - Brad Richardson - Mathieu Oliver
Roman Josi - Ryan Ellis Mattias Ekholm - Dante Fabbro Mark Borowiecki - Matt Benning
Starting goalie: Juuse Saros
Kathryn Tappen anchors Wednesday Night Hockey studio coverage alongside analysts Keith Jones, Mike Babcock and NHL insider Bob McKenzie.