Vancouver Canucks(25-39-9) @ Chicago Blackhawks(30-35-9)
7:30PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBCSCH, SNP
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
J-F Berube (2-4-1, 3.70 GAA, .897 Save%)
Vancouver:
Jacob Markstrom (18-26-6, 2.80 GAA, .909 Save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago:
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
Jurco-Anisimov-DeBrincat
Saad-Hinostroza-Highmore
Hayden-Kampf-Martinsen
Keith-Rutta
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Oesterle-Murphy
Vancouver:
Leipsic-Horvat-Goldobin
Sedin-Sedin-Boucher
Archibald-Sutter-Gagner
Jokinen-Down-Virtanen
Edler-Tanev
Del Zotto-Stecher
Pouliot-Biega
STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:
Power Play:
Chicago 16.1% (28th)
Vancouver 21.8% (T-8th)
Penalty Kill:
Chicago 79.3% (20th)
Vancouver 77.7% (T-22nd)
Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
Chicago 52.80% (4th)
Vancouver 47.89% (25th)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 49.8% (17th)
Vancouver 49.5% (20th)
SUMMARY:
Tuesday night’s embarrassing 5-1 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche was the loss that sealed the Blackhawks fate. They have officially been eliminated from the playoffs, and this painful season will end after its final eight games.
Following the loss at the United Center Tuesday, some of the players and coaches had some interesting comments.
Connor Murphy on missing the playoffs, “It sucks, and it’s kind of embrassing.”
Joel Quenneville on finishing the season, “It’s got a lot of meaning on the other side, so let’s play the right way and try to have fun.”
Patrick Kane on missing the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season, “Obviously one of those streaks you want to keep going. We had a disappointing second half of the season, to say the least.”
And my favorite quote after Tuesday night also came from Kane, who commented on what the Blackhawks have to play for in the remaining eight games. “We’re playing in the NHL, we’re playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, we’re playing in front of 21,000 fans every night. That’s enough motivation right there.”
As purely a fan, I hope the Blackhawks live up to what Kane said. Play hard, play loose, and show you want to take the ice every shift. I am not sure what will happen after this season, but these players should be playing for their careers after the season they have produced through 74 games.
The first of their four remaining home games, “in front of 21,000 fans,” is tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. The rivalry is pretty much extinct, but this is a team the Blackhawks should take care of on their home ice.
EDIT – It was announced after the morning skate that Jonathan Toews would “miss a few games” with and upper body injury sustained against the Blues.
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM. Join the conversation below!
Follow: @CoachMajewski