The Hawks look to get back on track tonight as they return to the ice versus former teammate Nick Leddy and the New York Islanders.
New York Islanders (23-20-4) at Chicago Blackhawks (22-17-6)
8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Chicago, MSG+
PROJECTED GOALIES:
NYI:
Thomas Greiss (10-6-2, 3.89 GAA, .886 save%)
Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (3-6-3, 2.92 GAA, .911 save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
NYI:
Lee-Tavares-Bailey
Beauvillier-Barzal-Eberle
Dal Colle-Nelson-Prince
Chimera-Fritz-Clutterbuck
Leddy-Mayfield
Pelech-Aho
Hickey-Pulock
Chicago:
Saad-Toews-Duclair
Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Kampf-Hinostroza
Bouma-Wingels-Sharp
Keith-Oesterle
Forsling-Rutta
Gustafsson-Seabrook
STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:
Power Play:
NYI 19.7% (12th)
Chicago 15.5% (26th)
Penalty Kill:
NYI 73.3% (30th)
Chicago 83.2% (9th)
Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
NYI 48.5% (20th)
Chicago 53.5% (2nd)
Faceoffs:
NYI 48.5% (25th)
Chicago 49.5% (20th)
SUMMARY:
The Hawks end their midseason break and return to the ice as a team in moderate turmoil. Or at least flux.
Headlines are negative, and the team’s last outing was a thoroughly embarrassing home loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. If there’s good news, the team is rested and Artem Anisimov is skating which presages a likely impending return.
Joel Quenneville looks to be icing the lines he ended the Detroit game with—most notably putting Anthony Duclair at right wing with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad. Erik Gustafsson makes his season debut alongside Brent Seabrook—this is a big opportunity for Gustafsson who was a star in the AHL this year.
We’ll recap tomorrow, but as always, join us on the game thread below at 7:30 Central for real time commentary from Gatekeeper, myself, and all the RinkRats.
Follow: @jaeckel