Physical foes are sitting pretty after taking it to Hawks in Game 3

The Nashville Predators' energy was overwhelming, their emotion overpowering, their hits punishing and their home crowd deafening.

And the end result was absolutely crushing for the Blackhawks.

The Hawks lost to the Predators 4-1 on Tuesday in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators lead the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday.

''Certainly tonight, we can't be pleased with the way we played,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''They were the harder-working team, more resilient, more desperate. We know that each and every game it is going to escalate, and today, for whatever the reasons, …