Game vs. Hawks was like a playoff game

--It was desperation time at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday. The Chicago Blackhawks came into the game winless in their previous eight contests. The Predators were winless in three games. Chicago's first loss in the skid came at Nashville on Jan. 21.

"It's time to show up and play the way we can," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said Tuesday morning. "We haven't played as well as we need to, and it starts with everything from focus, to a little more commitment and a little more push. ... To me it's a playoff game."

--D Ryan Ellis was a healthy scratch Saturday at Boston. It was the second time this season Ellis was scratched by coach Barry Trotz. The reason? Trotz wanted more consistency out of the rookie's game. Ellis, Nashville's first-round draft pick in 2009, provided the steadiness Tuesday with a goal and added an assist.

"I think taking that game off in Boston was probably a good thing. I

t kind of woke me up," Ellis said. "I was cold the last two games, and it kind of let me get refocused and let me know I have to play hard every single night."

--C Colin Wilson's family has quite an eye for star players. When Wilson was 10 years old and playing youth hockey in Winnipeg, he asked his father if he was as good as future Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews. Wilson's father, NHLer Carey Wilson, gave his son an honest assessment.

"But he goes, 'Yeah, he's going to be an All-Star in the NHL.' And I'll give my dad credit on that one because he knew his stuff," Colin said. "I'll never forget him saying that."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"That's how the league is. You're so hot and then you fall off. It's teams that quit the losing streaks the fastest are going to be there at the end of the year." -- D Ryan Suter

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