The Chicago Blackhawks enter Music City in search of a 4-1 series victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, but the Preds don't plan on going down without a fight.
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Chicago is looking to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third straight year and for the fourth time in the last six seasons while Nashville will hope to halt the celebration.
Despite entering as the lower seed and losing home ice to start the series, the Blackhawks took Games 1, 3 and 4 while dropping Game 2 at the Bridgestone Arena.
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Here are three things to watch for as the Blackhawks seek a trip to the second round Thursday night in Nashville.
3) Smashville: For the Blackhawks to advance Thursday, they'll have to play in a hostile environment against an opponent that enjoys playing at home. The Predators were a Western Conference-best 28-9-4 in Nashville this season and dismantled Chicago 6-2 in Game 2 the last time these teams met in the Bridgestone Arena on Sunday. This series has been tightly contested and it took five frames for the Predators to drop Game 1 in their building, with the Blackhawks winning in double overtime. Shea Weber and Mike Fisher may also return after dealing with lower-body injuries.
2) O Captain! My Captain!: Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is tied for first on the team in this series with two goals and five points while adding three helpers through the first four games. Toews found the twine on the power play in Game 1 to tie the contest at 3-3 and force two overtimes. As Toews goes, the team goes as he was held scoreless in Game 2 as Chicago was decimated. Toews then picked up a tally and a helper in the team's Game 3 victory when the series shifted to Chicago, though he was held off the scoreboard in Game 4. Even when he doesn't put up points, Toews is a driving force for the Blackhawks and could be the difference-maker in Chicago potentially clinching the series.
1) The Darling Of The Windy City: Scott Darling has almost single-handedly changed the complexion of this entire series. After Corey Crawford allowed three goals on 12 shots in the opening frame of Game 1, he was pulled as the club fell behind 3-0 early. Darling then came into the contest in relief and stopped all 42 shots he faced as the team rolled onto victory in double overtime. Joel Quenneville went with Crawford again in Game 2 -- the only game Chicago has lost thus far -- and he allowed six goals on 35 shots. Darling was given the nod in Game 3 and yielded just two goals on 37 shots in the victory and then followed it up with an epic 50-save performance in Game 4's triple overtime thriller, which was taken by the Blackhawks. In total, Darling has allowed four goals on 131 shots. Darling has been the X-factor in net and could be once again in Game 5 on Thursday.
The Blackhawks look to clinch their way into the second round while the Predators hope to send the series back to Chicago when the puck drops Thursday from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville
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