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Montreal Canadiens (5-8-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (7-5-2)
7PM Eastern/6 Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Montreal:
Carey Price (3-7-1, 3.77 GAA, .877 save%)
Chicago:
Corey Crawford (7-4-0, 1.75 GAA, .945 save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Montreal
Pacioretty-Danault-Shaw
Galchenyuk-Drouin-Lehkonen
Byron-Plekanec-Gallagher
Hudon-McCarron-Mitchell
Mete-Weber
Alzner-Petry
Davidson-Benn
Chicago
DeBrincat-Toews-Panik
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Anisimov-Hayden
Bouma-Wingels-Hartman
Keith-Franson
Rutta-Seabrook
Kempny-Murphy
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Montreal 17.2% (19th)
Chicago 14.3% (27th)
Penalty kill:
Montreal 71.4% (29th)
Chicago 83.9% (8th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5, through Friday)
Montreal 54.5% (3rd)
Chicago 48.7% (19th)
Faceoffs:
Montreal 48.5% (23rd)
Chicago 50.7% (15th)
SUMMARY:
Coming off their second straight shutout win, with more than a few positive signs of improvement in overall play, it could be worse for the Blackhawks.
For example, they could be the 5-8-1 Montreal Canadiens, a team around which expectations were every bit as high to start this season as they were for the Hawks. The Habs, like the Hawks, have struggled to find the right roster composition in the age of the flat salary cap—especially in their forward lines.
The projected lineups, including Corey Crawford playing the second half of a back-to-back are more “projected” than usual at this point. Could, for example, a supposedly healthy Gustav Forsling slip back into the lineup tonight? Sure, but then one of Jan Rutta or Michal Kempny, both of whom are playing very well, would have to sit.
For the Hawks, the challenge tonight will be maintaining their recent improved play with tired legs—especially later in the game tonight—against a fast Canadiens club. However, the Habs are also on the second half of a back-to- back, winning 5-4 in OT last night in Winnipeg.
Jeff Osborn (Gatekeeper) will recap tonight or tomorrow AM.