For the second consecutive season, the Chicago Blackhawks have lost their opening playoff game, as they lost 1-0 to the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
Viktor Arvidsson scored the first goal of the game for the Predators, and it was enough as Pekka Rinne stopped every shot that came his way en route to the victory.
Patrick Kane led the Blackhawks with six shots on goal, and Corey Crawford stopped 19 shots, but it wasn't enough as the Blackhawks lost and find themselves trailing in the series.
The Blackhawks dominated in the early stages of the first period, racking up five quick shots on net, but it was Nashville that managed to get on the board first. The puck found its way to Filip Forsberg, and the talented winger rifled a shot toward the net.
Skating through the slot, Arvidsson managed to get his stick blade on the puck on its way in, and it evaded Crawford to give the Predators a 1-0 lead.
Through the rest of the first period, the Blackhawks had difficulty in getting shots set up in the offensive zone, and they managed just one shot on goal in the final 14 minutes of the period as they trailed by one after 20 minutes of play.
Despite getting a power play just nine seconds into the second period, the Blackhawks still couldn't figure out how to solve Pekka Rinne. The Predators' goaltender was busy in the second period of the game, stopping 12 Chicago shots, and he helped his team maintain their lead with one period to go.
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The top line of Jonathan Toews, Tanner Kero, and Richard Panik figured heavily into the offensive push in the early stages of the third period. All three players had some quality opportunities around the net, but a slew of blocked shots by the Predators and some more athletic moves in the crease by Rinne continued to keep the Hawks at bay.
In the closing minutes, the Blackhawks threw everything they could at the Predators, ultimately totaling 29 shots on goal in the game. Unfortunately for them it wasn't enough, and they find themselves down one game to zero as the series moves forward.
The Blackhawks will look to tie things up in Game 2, which will take place on Saturday night at the United Center, with the game airing on NBC 5 Chicago.
