BLOG: Blackhawks Welcome Kaiser on the Road Ahead of Nashville

Coming off of a strong victory at home over Boston on Tuesday night, the Blackhawks are focused on taking the positives onto their five-game road trip.
"I think beating a team like that, it gave us a little bit of confidence in our game," head coach Luke Richardson said. "But we worked for that. We're still fighting to keep this identity that we're starting [to gain], and continuing that to the end of the year."

WELCOME WYATT

After signing a three-year, entry level deal
on Tuesday
, defenseman Wyatt Kaiser has joined the Blackhawks on the road. After collecting career highs in goals, assists, and points in his third season at Minnesota-Duluth with five goals, 18 assists and 23 points, he is looking forward to taking the next step in his hockey career.
"I had a lot of talks with Chicago throughout the year, and kind of towards the second half of my college career just kind of thought that would be the right decision [to turn professional]," Kaiser said. "As I grew, I learned a little bit more of the offensive game [as well as the] defensive. I just kind of all around kind of grew my game a little bit in Duluth."
While he won't make his professional debut tonight, Richardson said he hopes to get him on the ice during the road trip.
"We just want to get him in, and have a few days with the systems and he hasn't skated for a few days either," he said. "So we'll get him back on the ice, get him feeling comfortable."

NOT AN EASY TASK IN NASH

At this point in the season, teams like the Predators are still fighting to snag playoff spots. Nashville is riding a three-game win streak into tonight's game, but Chicago has sparked their own offensive fire recently.
"A good lesson is the Detroit game after [the big win over Ottawa]," Richardson said in terms of not letting the momentum they created in the Boston game wither away. "We have to be a little more consistent coming off of a big win, and frustrate other teams, and we're on the road so it doesn't have to be fancy."
This season, the Predators own a 2-0 record against the Blackhawks. The last time the two teams matched up was earlier this month on Mar. 4, when Nashville took the game at the United Center 3-1.
"[Another big win] isn't just going to [come easy] like that," Richardson said. "Especially againt Nashville, they're in a position that they're fighting for a playoff spot, and we're going to keep fighting."