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Not quite a hockey town, Nashville ready to rock

NASHVILLE - This town is hardly a hockey hotbed.

The Predators ranked 26th in NHL attendance and were 2,000 tickets short of a sellout leading up to their first home playoff game in two years.

Nonetheless, the Blackhawks knew they would be facing a lively Music City crowd heading into Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena.

"Even during the regular season their fans get into it so we expect that again," said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews before the game. "It's one of those things where we want to stay on an even keel. If they score a goal or if someone makes a play their crowd definitely gives them energy.

"We don't want to give them that edge too much."

The Blackhawks have no shortage of confidence playing away from the United Center. They set a franchise record for road victories (23) this season and trailed only San Jose, Los Angeles and Washington for road wins (24).

"You've got to be simple and you've got to be patient but you need hard work," said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville. "I don't think you want to be over creative, especially being on the road. So that's the recipe going forward when we're playing (Nashville).

Road teams fared well in the opening week of the NHL playoffs. All eight series featured a victory by the visitors in the first two games. Nashville, which also posted 23 road wins to match its franchise high, opened the series with a 4-1 win at Chicago before the Hawks bounced back to tie the series with a 2-0 win Sunday.

"Every (road) game it seems like you're going in as an underdog instead of when you're at home you've got the crowd behind you," said Hawks winger Patrick Kane. "I think if we stay loose and play the game loose and play the way were supposed to play we should be fine on the road.

"I know in the playoffs (two years ago) they were pretty loud and pretty excited for Nashville. We've been doing pretty good on the road pretty much all season so if we play the same way, I'm sure it's going to be a little louder and a little more interesting, but I think that's fun for us too because you never want to play in a dead building."

The Hawks went 2-1 in Nashville during the regular season.

Last year, the Hawks won twice at Vancouver in advancing to the Western Conference finals. They also closed out the quarterfinals in Game 6 at Calgary.

"When you're on the road I wouldn't say the pressure's off because you still want to win," Kane said, "but I wouldn't say there's as much as when you're at home."

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