Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks skate against each other in Game 6 of their Western Conference Round 1 Stanley Cup playoff series live from the United Center in Chicago.
Nashville looks to win yet another elimination contest to force a Game 7 back home while Chicago hopes to put the series away and become the second Western Conference team to advance to Round 2.
These teams split Games 1 and 2 in Nashville with the Blackhawks winning 4-3 in double overtime and the Predators followed it up with a 6-1 win. Chicago then took Games 3 and 4 when the series shifted with a 4-2 triumph followed by a 3-2 triple overtime victory in a classic.
With the Predators on the brink in Nashville, they gutted out a 5-2 win to force Game 6.
This game can be live streamed for free here.
The Blackhawks hope to play off their history and win this game to get to Round 2 for the third straight campaign.
"We've been on both sides of it," coach Joel Quenneville said via NHL.com. "We played in a lot of series that have started in a lot of different fashions, probably almost every single possible way. One thing about our team, the deeper in the series, the more meaningful the games, they rise to the challenge and the occasion. [The Predators] rose to the occasion in that third period [of Game 5], played accordingly, and we need to have that same fighting attitude [in Game 6]."
The Predators are without defenseman Shea Weber for the rest of the series and will look to overcome a huge loss to their blue line.
"I think we've played pretty well," Seth Jones told NHL.com. "It's tough losing a guy like [Weber], but injuries are injuries. Guys are going to get hurt and other guys are going to have to step up. I've had the opportunity to do that, and I think I've done a decent job with managing the game. I'm obviously not used to playing 28 minutes a night every night, so I'm just trying to manage it as best I can. [Roman] Josi's made it a lot easier for me."
Colin Wilson (five goals) and Filip Forsberg (four tallies, one helper) have paced the Predators with five points apiece while Jonathan Toews (two goals, three assists), Patrick Kane (one marker, four helpers) and Marian Hossa (five assists) each have five points for the Blackhawks.
In between the pipes, Nashville turns to Pekka Rinne and he has allowed 15 goals on 176 shots against him this series.
Chicago counters with rookie Scott Darling in the crease and he has yielded eight goals on 159 attempts thus far.
The Predators look to force a Game 7 while the Blackhawks look to advance when they take the ice for Game 6 live from the United Center in Chicago as part of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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