Edmonton (5-3-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (6-3-2)
5:00pm Central/4:00pm Mountain
United Center
TV/Radio: NHL Network,NBCSCH/WGN
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Cam Ward (.885 SV%, 4.23 GAA)
Edmonton:
Cam Talbot (.901 SV%, 2.88 GAA)
Team statistics:
Power Play
Chicago (11.1%, 28th)
Edmonton (26.4%, 8th)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (74.3%, 24th)
Edmonton (75.0%, T-21st)
Shots for/against per game
Chicago (34.5, 4th – 34.4, T-25th)
Edmonton (30.3, T-23rd – 29.2, T-9th)
Shooting%
Chicago (10.6%, T-10th)
Edmonton (9.9%, 16th)
Faceoff%
Chicago (48.6%, T-20th)
Edmonton (48.4%, 22nd)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago
6’1” 195lbs
Edmonton 6’2” 202lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago
DeBrincat-Toews-Kahun
Saad-Anisimov-Kane
Fortin-Johnson-Schmaltz
Kunitz-Kruger-Hayden
Keith-Jokiharju
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Manning-Rutta
Edmonton
Nugent-Hopkons-McDavid-Yamamoto
Rieder-Draisaitl-Chiasson
Lucic-Strome-Caggula
Khaira-Brodziak-Kassian
Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Garrison-Benning
Analysis:
Looking to avoid being swept on the weekend, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Edmonton Oilers in their first matchup of the season. Chicago lost last night in St. Louis 7-3, while the Oilers topped the Predators 5-3 in Nashville.
Patrick Kane notched two more goals in St. Louis, pushing his season total to 11 goals in 11 games. Kane also leads the Hawks with 17 points.
Edmonton center Connor McDavid can turn any possession into a scoring chance with his skill and speed. The former 1st overall pick tops the Oilers in goals (7) and assists (9) in only nine games.
Cam Ward, expected in net tonight, will face off against goaltender Cam Talbot for Edmonton. Ward surrendered five goals last Sunday against Tampa Bay. However, he played about as well as a goaltender can when facing 54 shots against.
Comment below in our live game thread tonight!
And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game later tonight or early tomorrow on the-rink.com.