Vancouver Canucks (24–24–6) vs Chicago Blackhawks (21–24–9)
7:30pm CST
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSCH/WGN
PROJECTED STARTERS
Chicago – Collin Delia (5–2–3, SV%: .922, GAA: 2.99)
Vancouver – Jacob Markstrom (20–15–5, SV%: .910, GAA: 2.78)
TEAM STATISTICS
Power Play
Chicago (21.2%, 12th)
Vancouver (16.7%, 22nd)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (73.4%, 31st)
Vancouver (79.4%, 19th)
Shorts for/against
Chicago (31.4, 17th; 34.9, 30th)
Vancouver (29.1, 26th; 31.0, T14th)
Shooting %
Chicago (10.1%, 11th)
Vancouver (9.8%, 13th)
Faceoff %
Chicago (49.7%, 17th)
Vancouver (48.9%, 20th)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197lbs
Vancouver 6’1” 198lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS
Chicago Blackhawks
Drake Caggiula–Jonathan Toews–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Dominik Kahun
Brandon Saad–David Kampf–Marcus Kruger
Brendan Perlini–Artem Anisimov–John Hayden
Gustav Forsling–Erik Gustafsson
Vancouver Canucks
Nikolay Goldobin–Bo Horvat–Brock Boeser
Antoine Roussel–Elias Pettersson–Josh Leivo
Markus Granlund–Brandon Sutter–Jake Virtanen
Loui Eriksson–Jay Beagle–Tyler Motte
Analysis
Five-straight wins suddenly have Blackhawks fans, and likely players, smelling a possible playoff berth. The Blackhawks currently sit 3 points out of a playoff position as they take on the “last team in” Thursday night, the Vancouver Canucks.
Patrick Kane once again dazzled on Tuesday in Edmonton. Although he and Connor McDavid are both still tied for second in league scoring, Kane scored his 32nd goal of the season and added an assist, where McDavid registered two assists. He is now only five goals behind the league leader, Alex Ovechkin, and is in striking distance for a run at the Rocket Richard Trophy and has broken the tie for second place.
The Canucks sit in the final Wild Card spot with 54 points and have lost 3 of their last 4 games. The Blackhawks are presented with a great opportunity to continue to claw for a playoff spot… if that’s what the front office thinks is best for this team long term.
The Canucks’ point leader, Elias Pettersson, is arguably this year’s Calder Trophy winner as top rookie. He has 24 goals and 23 assists despite missing time with injury. Pettersson is a game-breaking talent and is this year’s version of Mathew Barzal in the way he burst onto the NHL scene. If the Blackhawks hope to make it six-straight victories, they will need to find a way to nullify the high-flying rookie.