Chicago Blackhawks (2-0-1) at Minnesota Wild (0-1-1)
7pm Central
Xcel Energy Center
TV/Radio: FSN, FS-WI, WGN/WGN
Goalies:
Chicago
Cam Ward (.843 save%, 4.63 GAA)
Minnesota
Devan Dubnyk (.963 save%, 1.45 GAA)
Team statistics:
Power play
Chicago (0.0%)
Minnesota (0.0%)
Penalty kill
Chicago (63.6%)
Minnesota (83.3%)
Shots for/against per game
Chicago (34.7, 29.7)
Minnesota (25.5, 41.0)
Shooting%
Chicago (14.4%)
Minnesota (3.9%)
Faceoff%
Chicago (47.0%)
Minnesota (52.7%)
Avg. height/weight:
Chicago:
6’1”, 196
Minnesota
6’1” 203
Lineups:
Chicago
Debrincat – Toews – Kahun
Saad – Schmaltz – Kane
Kunitz – Anisimov – Fortin
Hayden – Kruger – Kampf
Keith – Jokiharju
Gustafsson – Seabrook
Manning – Rutta
Minnesota:
Eriksson Ek – Staal – Zucker
Parise – Koivu – Granlund
Niederreiter – Greenway – Coyle
Foligno – Hendricks – Fehr
Suter – Dumba
Brodin – Spurgeon
Seeler – Pateryn
Analysis:
The Chicago Blackhawks look to stay undefeated on the road, meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild are winless through two games.
Defense and goaltending have been a struggle for the Blackhawks. Despite scoring fifteen goals, the team sits +1 in goal differential. Winning high scoring affairs every night is difficult to sustain.
Cam Ward starts his fourth consecutive game. Ward’s record should not overshadow the fact he has played poorly. A game without an easy goal and a consistent effort is needed.
The Wild have struggled to put the puck in the net. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has kept them in both games with his stellar play.
This will be a good early season match-up between two Central Division rivals.
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.