(Photo by: Tom Gannam/AP Photo)

Jake Allen is making a name for himself at a very young age in the National Hockey League. The Fredericton, New Brunswick native--home of fellow Fang Faction writer Ray Harris--is having taking advantage of every opportunity available for him, whether it is because of injuries or lack of play. 

photo by: Getty Images

Welcome to the Weekend Update. This is the weekly article that keeps you up-to-date on the NHL standings, provides you with videos from around the hockey world from the week that was and informs Nashvillians on the televised NHL games in the upcoming week. In this edition, Detroit sings "Happy Birthday", the Blackhawks do Blackhawk things, Lundqvist makes a big save after an eye-popping Ladd pass, Boyle snipes from the slot, and Ovi records his 12th career hat trick.

(Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks clinched a playoff berth Sunday night with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Unfortunately for Nashville, they were unable to amount a point in their home and home with Chicago, despite their best efforts. It now seems next to impossible for the Predators to make a playoff run as there are only nine games remaining in the season.

After the Chicago Blackhawks got the best of the Nashville Predators Saturday afternoon in a 1-0 regulation victory, they faceoff again, but this time at the Madhouse on Madison. The Predators are ranked 12th in the Western Conference with 38 points and a record of 15-16-8. The Blackhawks are 1st in the Western Conference with a 28-5-4 record and 60 points. Puck drops at 6:07pm CT.

Prospect Austin Watson will get his first chance to play in the NHL with the Nashville Predators as he was recalled by the club Sunday morning, prior to the 6:00pm puck drop in Chicago. With the call up coming under "emergeny conditions", Wilson will most likely be in the lineup against the best of the West.

The 21 year old has spent the past season in Milwaukee playing 68 games and scoring 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists). Watson has excellent size as a center at 6'3", which helps him the faceoff dot.

With the recall becoming under emergency conditions, Paul Gaustad, groin, may be out for a few games.

The following is a press release from the Predators' organization.

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled forward Austin Watson from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions. Nashville’s first choice, 18th overall (first round), in the 2010 Entry Draft is expected to make his NHL debut tonight in Chicago.

 

Watson, 21 (1/13/92), leads the Admirals and ranks fifth among American Hockey League rookies in goals (20), in addition to ranking second on Milwaukee in points (36) in 2012-13. During a decorated junior career from 2008-12, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native won a pair of OHL titles (2009 and 2012) and a Memorial Cup (2009). With London a season ago, he was the recipient of the 2012 Wayne Gretzky 99 Award presented to playoff MVP, in addition to being named to the Memorial Cup tournament all-star team. The 6-3, 193-pound forward represented the United States at the 2012 World Junior Championships, leading the team in points (9) and assists (6).

(Photo by: John Russel/Getty Images)

Nashville played in front of their 18th home sellout crowd of the season this afternoon, although because if cheap SouthWest airlines flights (I'm told), it was a healthy mix of Red and Yellow in the stands. With their playoffs hopes on the line, Preds didn't show nearly enough spark to compete with the very good Blackhawks.

After missing the last game against the Blue Jackets due to illness, Victor Bartley will return to the lineup at maybe the best time possible; before a home and home with the Western Conference's best team in the league Chicago Blackhawks. 

With Bartley returning, the Predators no longer need the services of defenseman Ryan Ellis and have reassigned him to Milwaukee.

Puck drops in Bridgestone Arena at 2pm CT. Fans, remember to sing loudly to drown out the noisy and obnoxious Blackhawks fans.

The Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks start a home-and-home at Bridgestone Arena in a matinee match. Nashville is 15-15-8 with 38 points and 11th in the Western Conference. Chicago is 27-5-4 with 58 points and 1st in the Western Conference. Puck drops at 2:07pm CT.

Sorry for it being so long since I've updated the brackets and advanced to the quarterfinals. You have voted on who you're favorite all-time Predators players are, and now we are down to only eight. Only one can be crowned the Preds' all-time favorite, so get voting!

Go ahead and start voting after seeing the first and second rounds' results below. Have any questions? Ask them in the comment section below or contact me via Twitter or by email in the contact form above.

(Photo by: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators started the post-Martin Erat era with a 3-1 loss to Central Division rival Columbus Blue Jackets. This win snapped allowed Columbus to record their first regulation win at Bridgestone Arena since 2006.