Chicago, I.L. -- After a fantastic outing by Blackhawk goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin, the Chicago Blackhawks (42-24-11) clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2002. The Blackhawks defeated the Nashville Predators (38-32-8) 3-1 in an epoch divisional game.

After a quick goal by Nashville's Cal O'Reilly at the 10:47 mark in the first to tie it up 1-1, Chicago took over by slapping in two goals of their own. The first goal was scored by Jonathan Toews, who leads the team in goals with 32 this season. The other two were scored by the Blackhawks Samuel Pahlsson and Martin Havlat. Pahlsson's goal came late in the first period while Havlat added an empty-net-goal for the Blackhawks, who clinched just their second playoff spot in 11 years.

The Blackhawks (42-24-11) will cap off the season with three of their last five games on the road including a matchup with the Predators again on Tuesday night. They will finish up at home verses the current second place team in the Western Conference, the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit (49-19-9) has clinched the Central Division and are pushing for a number one seed.

Meanwhile, the Predators will look to rebound tonight as they take on the sixth place team in the west, the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-29-8).

The loss puts the Predators in a must win situation on Saturday night as they sit on the ninth spot in the Western conference. Or as most like to say, "on the outside looking in."