NHL Game Preview: Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators with Line Combinations 3/8/2025

Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators

Venue: Bridgestone Arena
Date: Saturday, March 8
Time: 7:00 PM CST

TV: ESPN+ / CHSN / FDSNSO
Radio:
Chicago – WGN Radio 720 AM
Nashville – The Game 102.5 FM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Chicago +1.5 ML -115
Nashville -1.5 ML -105
O/U 6.5

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Chicago Blackhawks News & Notes:

The Blackhawks were relatively quiet at the Trade Deadline after moving Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers. Chicago is done with rebuilding and ready to add pieces around Connor Bedard for the future. While they’re armed with their own draft picks this offseason, speculation can be had about a possible offer sheet.

Nashville Predators News & Notes:

Nashville kept themselves out of any major trade deadline moves by retaining Ryan O’Reilly. With the veterans on the roster, Barry Trotz will need to shape some draft picks into young roster talent to give his aging core the assistance they need. While signing aging stars seems to have been the source of excitement in Nashville, it’s now showing the uglier side of things.

Chicago Blackhawks Projected Lines:

Dach-Bedard-Nazar
Teravainen-Donato-Mikheyev
Slaggert-Foligno-Bertuzzi
Maroon-Reichel-Kurashev

Vlasic-Crevier
Del Mastro-Murphy
Kaiser-Martinez

Knight
Soderblom

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Nashville Predators Projected Lines:

Stamkos-O’Reilly-Evangelista
Forsberg-Sissons-Marchessault
Vrana-Svechkov-Smith
Bellows-McCarron-Wiesblatt

Skjei-Blankenburg
Del Gaizo-Stastney
Englund-Barron

Saros
Annunen

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Players To Watch:

Chicago Blackhawks

Ryan Donato was a player the Blackhawks decided to keep at the deadline. In his second season with the Blackhawks, Donato has found his scoring touch. He currently leads the team in goals with 23. The Blackhawks hope to close the gap on a contract extension with Donato and keep him around for a few more years.

Nashville Predators

Roman Josi has had a down year with Nashville; the captain is an astounding -26 so far this season. While a drop in point production assists in that, he was +12 last season—a 38 point difference.

Injury Report:

Chicago Blackhawks

G Laurent Brossoit – IR (Non-Roster)
C Jason Dickinson – Out week-to-week

Nashville Predators

D Roman Josi – IR
LW Michael Bunting – Day-to-day
D Jeremy Lauzon – IR
D Adam Wilsby – Out Remainder of Season

Next game:

Chicago Blackhawks – March 10 at Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators – March 11 at San Jose Sharks

ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they break down the Chris Kreider trade, the Calder Cup Final, and the Stanley Cup Final drawing to an end.

1. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10
2. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat? 29:05
3. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch 46:47
4. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat? 32:22
5. ITR 39: Conference Finals 35:18