Pittsburgh Penguins (13–10–6) at Chicago Blackhawks (9–18–5)
7:00pm CST,
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSN/WGN
PROJECTED STARTERS
Chicago – Corey Crawford (5–14–1, SV%: .901, GAA: 3.921
Pittsburgh – Matt Murray (4–5–0, SV%: .877, GAA: 4.08)
TEAM STATISTICS
Power Play
Chicago (11.3%, 31st)
Pittsburgh (23.2%, 9th)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (72.6%, 30th)
Pittsburgh (83.7%, 6th)
Shorts for/against
Chicago (32.1, 13th; 33.5, 26th)
Pittsburgh (32.3, 11th; 32.0, T-21st)
Shooting %
Chicago (8.5%, 28th)
Pittsburgh (10.3%, 10th)
Faceoff %
Chicago (50.1%,T-14th)
Pittsburgh (50.4%, 13th)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197lbs
Pittsburgh 6’1” 198lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS
Chicago Blackhawks
Brandon Saad–Jonathan Toews–John Hayden
Dominik Kahun–David Kampf–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Dylan Sikura
Chris Kunitz–Marcus Kruger–Brendan Perlini
Duncan Keith–Connor Murphy
Brent Seabrook–Henri Jokiharju
Jan Rutta–Carl Dahlstrom
Pittsburgh Penguins
Derick Brassard–Sidney Crosby–Jake Guentzel
Tanner Pearson–Evgeni Malkin–Phil Kessel
Zach Aston-Reese–Riley Sheahan–Bryan Rust
Garrett Wilson–Derek Grant–Jean-Sebastien Dea
Brian Dumoulin–Kris Letang
Olli Maatta–Jamie Oleksiak
Marcus Pettersson–Jack Johnson
Analysis
Chicago rides an eight-game losing streak, losing last night in Winnipeg 6 – 3, into tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not to sound like a broken record, but the Blackhawks cannot continue to fall behind early in games. Jeremy Colliton responded last night to the slow starts.
Coach Jeremy Colliton after Chicago's 6-3 loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday. #CHIvsWPG https://t.co/p5ljmQQVrl
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 12, 2018
A few minor moves were made this morning, as Dylan Sikura and Carl Dahlstrom were called up from Rockford. Chicago also placed Artem Anisimov on injured reserve, retroactive to Sunday, and assigned Alexandre Fortin to Rockford.
Sikura has registered nine goals in the AHL this season, collecting a total of 18 points, in 26 games. The 23-year old winger brings an offensive flair, but expectations should be tempered. Colliton will need to find a good spot for Sikura in the lineup to showcase his skills, he’s not guaranteed offense.
The Blackhawks dipped into their Swedish defenseman pool, again, as Dahlstrom is added to the poor defensive core. Dahlstrom, in 22 games, has one goal and eight points, but will bring some needed size, 6’4” 223, to a defense that struggles playing physically, especially around the net.
Corey Crawford gets the call tonight in net. The veteran has lost his last eight starts. The confidence in his game is at an all-time low.
Pittsburgh activated Matt Murray, Penguins’ top goaltender, suffered a concussion in October, as well as, a lower body injury which put him on injured reserve. Expect Murray in net tonight.