A one-off game hasn’t been all that common this season. The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators open their “series” this afternoon in Nashville with the fourth and final spot in the Central Division playoff race on the line. Both teams have 39 points in the standings with each having 18 games left to play. The Predators hold the tiebreaker over the Blackhawks with more regulation wins this season, but the Blackhawks have an opportunity to put the Predators behind them with a win today. Both teams hold a three-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and a five-point lead over the Dallas Stars, both of whom are also in action later today.