The Blackhawks resume their road trip after a few days off—Thursday night, they face off against the rebuilding Vancouver Canucks.
Chicago Blackhawks (17-13-5) at Vancouver Canucks (15-17-5)
8PM Central/10 Pacific
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (1-4-3, 3.13 GAA, .909 SV%)
Vancouver:
Jacob Markstrom (9-12-4, 2.77 GAA, .905 SV%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago
Saad-Toews-Sharp
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
DeBrincat-Kampf-Hinostroza
Bouma-Wingels-Hayden
Keith-Oesterle
Forsling-Rutta
Murphy-Seabrook
Vancouver
Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson
Vanek-Gagner-Boeser
Boucher-Granlund-Biega
Gaunce-Dowd-Virtanen
Edler-Stecher
Del-Zotto-Hutton
Pouliot-Gudbranson
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Chicago 13.9% (29th)
Vancouver 21.9% (9th)
Penalty kill:
Chicago 82.3% (11th)
Vancouver 77.3% (26th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5):
Chicago 52.9% (6th)
Vancouver 47.9% (23rd)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 48.3% (26th)
Vancouver 48.4% (24th)
SUMMARY:
The bad luck Blackhawks got a little more of the same yesterday, with the news that season MVP Corey Crawford has gone on IR. Lesser, associated news was the recall of goalie Jeff Glass and center David “Will You Be Mein” Kampf from Rockford.
Rumors swirled yesterday Crawford injured his back and wil miss at least four games, due to having gone on IR. Anton Forsberg takes over, and frankly, Forsberg has had some hard luck himself with two overtime losses in games he played very well in—but for the most part, he’s been solid to at times brilliant. And the Hawks will need him to be at least good.
Because Chicago needs a win and to regain the positives they had during a recent 5-game win streak—which has now been countered by two straight losses. This morning, the Hawks sit just outside a playoff spot in the West.
We’ll recap tomorrow AM.
Follow: @jaeckel