The Blackhawks travel to frosty Winnipeg tonight to faceoff against a much-improved Jets club. Will the Hawks’ win streak continue?
Chicago Blackhawks (15-11-5) at Winnipeg Jets (18-8-5)
7:00PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Corey Crawford (14-7-2, 2.20 GAA, .933 SV%)
Winnipeg:
Connor Hellebuyck (16-3-4, 2.44 GAA, .920 SV%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago
Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
Sharp-Hinostroza-Hartman
Bouma-Wingels-Hayden
Keith-Oesterle
Forsling-Kempny
Murphy-Seabrook
Winnipeg
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Ehelers-Little-Laine
Copp-Lowry-Tanev
Perreault-Hendricks-Armia
Morrissey-Trouba
Kulikov-Myers
Chiarot-Poolman
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Chicago 15.2% (29th)
Winnipeg 25.9% (4th)
Penalty kill:
Chicago 83.8% (5th)
Winnipeg 79.5% (22nd)
Corsi For % (5-on-5)
Chicago 52.4% (9th)
Winnipeg 48.9% (20th)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 48.8% (25th)
Winnipeg 52.7% (3rd)
SUMMARY:
Here, on the road against a very good divisional opponent, the Hawks’ recent “improvement” is put to the test. This year’s Jets team is big and nasty (as always) but also mobile and skilled. I’ve seen them play once in person this year and they were very impressive in all phases.
Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom are out tonight for Winnipeg, and that’s good news for the Hawks who may find some advantage versus a more patchwork Winnipeg blueline corps.
Jan Rutta did not travel with the Blackhawks to Winnipeg and it looks like Michal Kempny will take his place in the lineup tonight.
Joel Quenneville is putting Michal Kempny back in the lineup after the defenseman has been scratched in each of the last 13 games. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Hou2wmnIYh
— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) December 14, 2017
If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw the trade discussion rumor I posted this morning, that has the Hawks talking to Ottawa about Michel Kempny and a Rockford blueliner. Bear in mind, Ottawa is rumored to be talking to several teams about several players. Still, all indicators, both this rumor and a steady robust presence of opposing clubs’ senior scouts in Rockford suggests the Hawks are in conversations with perhaps a handful of teams. To date, two I have heard are Buffalo and Ottawa. Stay tuned.
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM.
Follow: @jaeckel