PREVIEW: Blackhawks Host Predators to Open Weekend Back-to-Back

TIME: 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH | RADIO: WGN 720 AM | STREAM:
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The Blackhawks open a weekend back-to-back on Friday night as the Nashville Predators make their second trip of the year to the United Center.

TEAM RECORDS

• CHI: 11-15-2, 24 PTS
• NSH: 18-10-1, 37 PTS

HOW TO WATCH

Can't make it out to the United Center? Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk are on the call with Colby Cohen between the benches on NBC Sports Chicago with pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. John Wiedeman and Paul Caponigri have the radio broadcast of tonight's game on WGN Radio.

VS. NASHVILLE

The Blackhawks defeated the Predators 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 7 at the United Center in Derek King's debut game as interim head coach. Alex DeBrincat notched the game-winning and Brandon Hagel recorded Chicago's lone tally in regulation. Kevin Lankinen stopped 20 of 21 shots on goal and posted his third career assist in the victory. His three helpers share fourth among goaltenders since the beginning of last season.
The Predators are one of four teams (Columbus, Dallas and St. Louis) Patrick Kane has more than 60 career points against.

MAGIC MINUTE

The Blackhawks scored three goals in a span of 34 seconds in the second period on Wednesday, matching the third fastest instance of three consecutive goals in franchise history. It was the 26th instance in NHL history of a team scoring three goals in a span of 34 seconds or fewer. It's happened four other times in the last 30 years: Los Angeles (0:30 on Oct. 12, 2019), Winnipeg (0:34 on Oct. 29, 2017), Chicago (0:34 on March 19, 2017) and Pittsburgh (0:29 on Jan. 26, 1993).

KANE HELPERS

Kane became the third player in franchise history to collect at least 700 assists with the Blackhawks on Wednesday, joining Stan Mikita (926 in 1,396 games played) and Denis Savard (719 in 881). He also became the fifth active player to reach the 700-assist plateau, joining Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby, Nicklas Backstrom and Ryan Getzlaf.
Kane joined six other U.S.-born skaters with over 700 helpers in their NHL careers.

GOALAPALOOZA

Alex DeBrincat posted two power-play markers against the Capitals on Wednesday night for his 22nd career multi-goal game. Only four other players in team history have notched more such outings before their 24th birthday: Roenick (35), B. Hull (28), Larmer (25) and Savard (24).
DeBrincat shares eighth in the league with 16 goals this season. Since the 2018-19 season, the Farmington Hills, Michigan native paces the NHL with seven goals in overtime. Since he debuted during the 2017-18 season, his 135 markers are 11th among all skaters.
DeBrincat notched a season-long five-game point streak (5G, 2A), which included back-to-back multi-point games, from Nov. 7-20.