The Blackhawks look to redeem themselves tonight at the UC, against another divisional foe, after losing 2-1 on home ice to Minnesota Wednesday night.
Winnipeg Jets (26-11-7) at Chicago Blackhawks (21-16-6)
7:30PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Jeff Glass (2-1-1, 3.51 GAA, .908 Save%)
Winnipeg:
Connor Hellebuyck (23-4-6, 2.36 GAA, .923 Save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago:
Saad-Toews-HInostroza
Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Duclair-Kampf-DeBrincat
Bouma-Wingels-Sharp
Keith-Oesterle
Murphy-Seabrook
Forsling-Rutta
Winnipeg:
Connor-Wheeler-Laine
Perreault-Little-Ehlers
Matthias-Copp-Armia
Dano-Hendricks-Roslovic
Morrissey-Trouba
Kulikov-Myers
Enstrom-Byfuglien
STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:
Power Play:
Chicago 16% (T-25th)
Winnipeg 25.6% (2nd)
Penalty Kill:
Chicago 82.3% (T-10th)
Winnipeg 81.2% (16th)
Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
Chicago 53.6% (2nd)
Winnipeg 50.4% (14th)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 49.4% (21st)
Winnipeg 52.9% (1st)
SUMMARY:
Coming off a disappointing home loss to the Minnesota Wild Wednesday night, the Blackhawks look to rebound against the first-place Winnipeg Jets Friday night. The Hawks will also hit the United Center ice with newly acquired 22-year-old forward, Anthony Duclair, who will look to make an impact in his first game in an Indianhead sweater.
There were mixed reviews around Blackhawk Nation when GM Stan Bowman announced the trade that would send Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin to Arizona, with Anthony Duclair and Adam Clendening coming back to Chicago. With Chicago saving cap space both this year and next year, while also becoming younger and faster up front, the trade can be viewed as a success at first glance. However, as pointed out here on The-Rink.com yesterday, this type of trade feels all too familiar for the Hawks—a bit of a low stakes gamble.
Regardless of any initial thoughts of the trade, tonight’s game against the Jets is more important than perhaps many realize.The Hawks manhandled the Jets in Winnipeg earlier this season, but tonight the Jets have Toby Enstrom and Big #33, Dustin Byfuglien, back in their lineup.
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM. Join the conversation below!