Chicago Blackhawks (12–19–6) at Colorado Avalanche (19–10–6)
8:00pm CST
Pepsi Center
TV/Radio: NBCSCH+/WGN
PROJECTED STARTERS
Chicago (potentially) – Collin Delia (First NHL appearance this season)
Colorado– Semyon Varlamov (11–8–3, SV%: .913, GAA: 2.79)
TEAM STATISTICS
Power Play
Chicago (12.8%, 30th)
Colorado (28.5%, 3rd)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (72.6%, 31st)
Colorado (77.2%, 23rd)
Shorts for/against
Chicago (31.9, T-14th; 34.0, 28th)
Colorado (31.7, T-16th; 32.1, 21st)
Shooting %
Chicago (9.0%, 25th)
Colorado (11.2%, 5th)
Faceoff %
Chicago (49.9%,16th)
Colorado (47.8%, 27th)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197lbs
Colorado 6’1” 201lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS
Chicago Blackhawks
Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–Dominik Kahun
Dylan Strome–Artem Anisimov–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–David Kampf–Dylan Sikura
John Hayden–Luke Johnson–Brendan Perlini
Duncan Keith–Erik Gustafsson
Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook
Carl Dahlstrom–Connor Murphy
Colorado Avalanche
Gabriel Landeskog–Nathan MacKinnon–Mikko Rantanen
J.T. Compher–Alexander Kerfoot–Colin Wilson
Matthew Nieto–Carl Soderberg–Matt Calvert
Sven Andrighetto–Tyson Jost–Gabriel Bourque
Samuel Girard–Erik Johnson
Ian Cole–Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth–Anton Lindholm
Analysis
Coming off back-to-back victories for the first time since October 25, the Blackhawks travel to Colorado for tonight’s game with the Avalanche. Another victory tonight would give Chicago their first three-game winning streak on the season.
Erik Gustafsson continues his hot streak from the blue line. The 26-year old defenseman has three goals in four games and leads Blackhawks defenseman eight goals on the season. Next closest defenseman is Brent Seabrook with four goals.
Patrick Kane, coming off a two-goal performance last night in Dallas, continues to lead the Blackhawks in scoring with 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists). Kane had two goals in the past twelve games before last night (Hawks won 2 of those 12 games).
Colorado, currently third in the Central Division, is nothing if not a top-heavy team. Forwards Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog form possibly the best line in hockey.
Rantanen (16 goals, 42 assists) and MacKinnon (21 goals, 34 assists) are both a tops in the league in points. Landeskog (23 goals, 19 assists) is currently tied for thirteenth in the league in points, with Patrick Kane.