Predators Ponderings: 5 takeaways from Game 1 loss to Blackhawks

Here are five takeaways from the Predators' 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Blackhawks in Game 1 on Wednesday:

-- Mike Fisher's return from a lower-body injury lasted until early in the second period. After missing Nashville's last two regular-season games, Fisher took one shift in the second period and did not return after it ended with 18:17 remaining. in Fisher's place, coach Peter Laviolette tasked Matt Cullen with filling in at center.

"You could go down a checklist of things that you need from players on the ice, from faceoffs, leadership, power play, penalty kill, and you just keep checking the boxes when Mike comes out of the lineup," Laviolette said. "Those are some big shoes to fill."

-- Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling made his unexpected NHL playoff debut, taking over for starter Corey Crawford after he allowed three goals on 12 first-period shots.

None was better than Darling's back-door save on Ryan Ellis during a Nashville power play, robbing the Predators of an opportunity to reclaim the lead.

Darling was perfect over the remaining 67:44, making 42 saves. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Darling set an NHL playoff record for goaltenders, playing the most time without allowing a goal in a relief appearance.

"That was one of the greatest relief performances you're going to see," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.

Quenneville did not commit to a Game 2 starter when pressed after the game. He said that a decision would be made Thursday.

-- On the other end of the ice, Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne allowed four goals for the third time in his past five starts. He's lost all five of those starts and has a 3.23 goals-against average and .871 save percentage. To entirely place the blame on Rinne would be unfair, but he hasn't resembled the elite goaltender he has proven he can be.

-- Colleague John Glennon detailed the Predators' recent second-period pratfalls. After taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission, the Predators allowed three unanswered goals in the second period. Nashville has been outscored 14-2 in the second period in its past eight games.

That also set an NHL playoff record, marking the first time that the first game of a playoff series saw one team shut out its opponent in the first period by a margin of at least three goals, and the opponent do the same in the second period. (That is also courtesy of Elias.)

-- Forward Colin Wilson scored six times in 34 games since the All-Star break, but he rediscovered his scoring touch in the first period, striking twice. His first goal saw him torch Chicago's Michal Rozsival, blowing by the flat-footed defenseman and scoring for the first time since March 5.

"That whole time in the first period, everybody was going and everybody was feeling it," Wilson said. "We had a lot of energy, so I think the goal was a result of that."

Reach Adam Vingan at 615-259-8023 and on Twitter @AdamVingan