Nashville @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 9, 2020 ) Nashville 5, Chicago 2

The Nashville Predators saw the momentum built from a lopsided victory and a home-and-home sweep of a bitter rival go by the boards following a setback in their last contest. The Predators look to get back on track Friday when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks, who have dropped seven of their last eight games (1-5-2).

Although Ryan Johansen scored his first goal in February and fourth since Christmas during Tuesday's 4-1 setback to Carolina on Tuesday, Nashville offered little else offensively to squander a chance to cut into the deficit toward a wild-card berth. "It wasn't good enough," the 27-year-old Johansen said. "We need to find ways to get points every game right now. Disappointed tonight, but in saying that, we've got to look at things and make sure we're ready for Chicago (on Friday)." The Blackhawks certainly didn't appear ready for the third period on Wednesday, surrendering five goals in the session in a 6-3 setback to the New York Rangers. "We didn't prepare well enough," Chicago coach Jeremy Colliton said. "This time of year, it’s about 90 percent mental. Physically, you are who you are. You’ve got to prepare yourself mentally to do what you need to do, and the body will kick in."

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

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (29-23-7): Defenseman Ryan Ellis could be making his long-awaited return on Friday after he received a concussion following a vicious elbow to the head from Dallas' Corey Perry during the Winter Classic on New Year's Day. "(I'm feeling) much better," the 29-year-old Ellis said after Thursday's practice. "(It's been a) long road, and I've never really been down that one, so it's nice to be feeling more like myself." Nashville coach John Hynes admitted he tested Ellis in practice, but the team plans to address the defenseman's status for Friday evening's game in the morning.

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (26-26-8): Dominik Kubalik recorded his fourth multi-goal performance of the season on Wednesday to give him an NHL rookie-best 25 tallies. Like Kubalik (three goals, two assists), captain captain Jonathan Toews is also riding a three-game point streak (one goal, five assists) and has four assists in the season series versus Nashville. Defenseman Duncan Keith notched his 500th career assist on Kubalik's first tally on Wednesday and resides one goal shy of 100 and one point short of 600.

OVERTIME

1. Chicago is 0-for-17 on the power play in its last six games.

2. Nashville RW Viktor Arvidsson, who had a franchise-best 34 goals last season, has one in his past nine games.

3. The road team has won the first three games of the season series.

PREDICTION: Predators 4, Blackhawks 2