Nashville @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2019 ) Chicago 7, Nashville 2

The Nashville Predators fell flat on their face in the debut of new coach John Hynes, but the club was able to turn the page following a lopsided loss and get a solid practice under its belt the following day. The Predators look to redeem themselves following their fifth defeat in six contests (1-4-1) when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

"I look at it as a great opportunity because we are not that far out (of a playoff spot)," Nashville forward Matt Duchene said following Wednesday's practice. "It starts with one game, though. You can't look three or four down the road. It starts with one, and I think the first one is going to be the hardest one to get." The 28-year-old boosted his point total to eight (one goal, seven assists) in his last seven games by setting up Filip Forsberg's team-leading 15th goal in the Predators' 6-2 setback to Boston on Tuesday. Whether Robin Lehner opposes Duchene and company has yet to be answered by coach Jeremy Colliton, but the Chicago goaltender declared himself good to go on Wednesday after missing two games with a right knee injury. "I'm back to full practice so we'll see when (I) get the opportunity," the 28-year-old Lehner said. "I never had like a knee injury, so (it was) just kind of wait and see and see how everything was going to turn out. I'm happy ... it wasn't long. (I) thought it was going to be a few weeks at least, but, no, it's good."

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network, FS Tennessee, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (19-16-7): Captain Roman Josi also picked up an assist on Forsberg's power-play goal midway into the second period on Tuesday to extend his point streak to a career-high 11 games (seven goals, 12 assists). The 29-year-old Josi, who leads the team in assists (31) and points (45), was held off the scoresheet in Nashville's 3-0 victory over Chicago on Oct. 29 before tallying twice in the Predators' 7-2 setback to the Blackhawks to Nov. 16. Pekka Rinne was in net for both contests, as he answered a 20-save performance in the first meeting by yielding four goals on 14 shots in that rematch.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (19-19-6): Dylan Strome has provided an offensive punch with 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) this season, but the 22-year-old will not be on the ice Thursday as he nurses a right ankle injury. Strome won't be alone in the press box, as fellow forwards Brandon Saad (right ankle), Drake Caggiula (concussion protocol) and Andrew Shaw (concussion protocol) are also sidelined while defensemen Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan are out for the season with right shoulder injuries. "It's been a challenge for our guys and for the most part, (they've) risen to the challenge," Colliton said of his team's resiliency in the face of injury. "Young players taking on more responsibility, and that's what we've needed. They've been a big part of our success, and of course it'll be good to get a couple of guys back when that does happen."

OVERTIME

1. Chicago RW Patrick Kane, who leads the club in goals (24) and assists (31), recorded four of each during his four-game point streak.

2. Predators C Craig Smith has eight goals and 11 points over his last 10 games.

3. Blackhawks LW Dominik Kubalik has scored a goal in consecutive contests and has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last nine.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Predators 2