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Predators' desperation was higher than Hawks'

Troy Murray Q and A for Game 6:

Q: Was the Predators' 3-goal blitz in Game 5 a product of the Blackhawks losing focus or something Nashville did - or both?

A: Nashville understood that they were down to one period of elimination. I really thought that they were going to come out and force the issue. It would have been a mistake if Nashville tried to come out and play a patient third period and let the game unfold. They dictated the play and their desperation was higher than the Blackhawks.

There were a couple early mistakes as far as puck management ... and that gave Nashville some momentum. The first goal, two times you had puck possession and failed to clear the zone and Neal scores the goal. Then you take a penalty because there's good pressure in the offensive zone, aggressive forecheck, and Nashville capitalizes.

Q: How big was Mike Fisher's return? Do you think he neutralizes Jonathan Toews' line and / or improves Nashville's overall play?

A: I think both. He's a real good all-around player. He's good at faceoffs, you can play him in any situation on the penalty kill, offensive zone and defensive zone. And he's a leader inside the locker room. I think he's got the most (playoff) games of anyone on Nashville. So when you have a loss like (defenseman) Shea Weber and a loss of Mike Fisher not playing those three games, that's a big hole to fill with some younger guys who are inexperienced.

Q: Do the Hawks need to do something more to slow down Colin Wilson (5 goals) or is he just having a heckuva postseason?

A: I think everybody kind of looks at this - and even in the questions you hear to the coaches - that everybody thinks Nashville is an underdog in this series. Well, they had more goals per game than the Blackhawks did, they had more points at the end of the season. This is a good hockey team and they've got good players over there.

Just because Colin Wilson is a name that people aren't familiar with - if it's a Justin Williams (of the Kings), people aren't asking these questions - he's a good hockey player. That's just the bottom line. He's going to make the difference in games when he has the opportunity and the Blackhawks have to be better in what they do in their own end of the ice, not only against Wilson, but everybody.

Q: How do you think Scott Darling will rebound in Game 6?

A: I don't think there's a concern. Obviously you look at his experience in these situations and you say, 'You've got to go through it.' Reverse the tide here, and talk about the Nashville Predators' inexperience on their blue line. They've been able to fight through it and they're excited about the opportunity.

I think Darling is excited about getting another chance again. I didn't think he was at fault on the (third-period) goals. The guys in front of him have to be better in front of him to control the situations in their own end. I think Joel Quenneville and everybody has the confidence to go in there and play the consistent hockey that he has been playing.

• Murray is in his 15th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his eighth as the color analyst for the team's radio broadcasts. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer who played 15 years in the NHL. Follow him on Twitter@muzz19.

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