It's a Nashville no-show for Hawks in Game 3

There's a concept the Blackhawks are going to have to warm up to at some point in this series.

Yes, they are far superior to Nashville in talent, but this is the postseason, and facing a team that prides itself on defense and commitment to the system, the Hawks better match the Predators' effort or they will soon find themselves in serious trouble.

They're not there yet, not down 2-1 in the series after losing 4-1 in Nashville Tuesday night, because the Hawks could easily run off 3 straight victories against the undermanned Preds.

But the Hawks don't want to come home down 3-1 and have to win three straight to stay alive in the tourney, yet that's where they'll be if they don't show up Thursday night for Game 4.

Despite missing their leading scorer, Patric Hornqvist, the Predators took it to the Hawks and then sat on a lead, something they do better than just about any team in the NHL.

They frustrated the Hawks from one end to the other, outhitting and outshooting them from start to finish, and took control of the game in the second period.

The Preds scored twice to take a 3-1 lead, though both goals should have been prevented.

The Hawks thought they had numbers back after Brent Seabrook pinched, but Kris Versteeg lost touch with his man and a 2-on-2 became a 2-on-1. Steve Sullivan (2 assists) and David Legwand (3 points) turned it into a 2-1 Nashville lead.

A few minutes later, midway through the second, the Preds made it 3-1 when the Hawks' forwards were caught freelancing in their own end and lost their points.

That left them too far from Shea Weber when he blasted a shot from the blue line that Marian Hossa deflected past Antti Niemi and the Hawks were down a pair.

This is not a team you want to play catch-up against, and sure enough the rest of the game was a Predators hockey clinic, during which they made the Hawks' best players invisible.

They won individual battles along the boards and behind the nets, and their puck support and puck possession was so good it probably made Joel Quenneville proud, knowing his team is usually the squad making those smart and responsible plays.

The Preds were patient, prescient and predictable, dictating play and frustrating the Hawks with their pace of play and simple style.

When Martin Erat smoked Niemi on a penalty shot with 5:35 left, beating him top right corner and making it 4-1, it was already over, especially the way Pekka Rinne played in the Nashville goal.

The Preds forced the Hawks into bad pass after bad pass, and their tight defensive coverage was a complete nightmare.

Welcome to Nashville Predators hockey.

It would be too easy to say the Hawks could learn from the way the Preds sacrificed offense for defense, chipped pucks deep, blocked shots and clogged passing lanes.

It would be too easy because the Hawks know how to do all those things and do them very well.

But for two games in this series, both losses, the Hawks have been too cute on offense and too irresponsible on defense.

Yet, if the Hawks can bring their typical energy and intelligence Thursday, they'll capture the next one, regain home ice and take control of the series.

They might want to start, however, by showing up.

brozner@dailyherald.com

• Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM.