Chicago Blackhawks (16-21-7) vs Calgary Flames (26-13-4)
7:30pm Central
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSCH – WGN 720
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago – Collin Delia (3-0-1 W-L, 1.98 GAA, .952 SV%)
Calgary – David Rittich (14-4-3 W-L, 2.37 GAA, .921 SV%, 1 SO)
Team statistics:
Power Play
Chicago (25th – 15.9%)
Calgary (14th – 20.9%)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (30th tied – 73.8%)
Calgary (19th – 78.3%)
Shots for/against per game
Chicago (19th, 31.4% – 30th, 34.6%)
Calgary (12th, 32.2% – 3rd, 28.6%)
Shooting%
Chicago (18th – 7.8%)
Calgary (10th, 8.24%)
Faceoff%
Chicago (18th, 49.7%)
Calgary (4th, 52.3%)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago
6’1” 197lbs
Calgary
6’1” 198lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago Blackhawks
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Dominik Kahun
Artem Anisimov – Dylan Strome – Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat – David Kampf – Brendan Perlini
John Hayden – Marcus Kruger – Drake Caggiula
Duncan Keith – Erik Gustafsson
Brandon Davidson – Brent Seabrook
Carl Dahlstrom – Connor Murphy
Calgary Flames
Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk – Mikael Backlund – Sam Bennett
Michael Frolik – Mark Jankowski – James Neal
Garnet Hathaway – Derek Ryan – Austin Czarnik
Mark Giordano – T.J. Brodie
Noah Hanifin – Travis Hamonic
Oliver Kylington – Rasmus Andersson
Analysis:
The Blackhawks are riding high after their comeback win in Pittsburgh last night. Shortly before the game, Gustav Forsling was put on the injured list with an upper body injury, and is expected to miss tonight’s game, as well. Rookie goalie Collin Delia will get the start in net with Cam Ward getting a heroic win just 24 hours previous.
The Flames come into tonight’s game, tied for second overall in the NHL and first in the Pacific Division. As a result, Coach Bill Peters will coach the Pacific Division team in the All-Star game later this month. Things seem to be going very well in Calgary. Much like Delia, relatively unknown goalie David “Big Save Dave” Rittich has stepped in and grabbed a hold of the backup/1B spot with the Flames while splitting time with oft-injured Blackhawks nemesis Mike Smith.
The Flames are one of the best shot suppression teams in the league and one of only seven that avg facing less than 30 shots a game and also lead the Blackhawks in most statistical categories. This should prove to be an issue for the Blackhawks, who are trying to make up ground in the Western Conference.
The line of Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm have been as good as any line in the entire NHL, Each player has eclipsed the 48 point mark at the 43 game mark, which could see each of them pass the 100 point mark. Not to be outdone, Matthew Tkachuk has 49 points in 43 games, which could eventually lead to this team having four 100 point players by season’s end.