Chicago Blackhawks (22-17-6) at Vancouver Canucks (20-24-6)
9:00PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (5-7-3, 2.86 GAA, .915 Save%)
Vancouver:
Jacob Markstrom (14-16-5, 2.75 GAA, .908 Save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago:
DeBrincat-Toews-Duclair
Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Hartman-Anisimov-Wingels
Hinostroza-Kampf-Jurco
Keith-Oesterle
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Kempny-Murphy
Vancouver:
D.Sedin-H.Sedin-Boeser
Vanek-Horvat-Eriksson
Baertschi-Sutter-Granlund
Gaunce-Gagner-Virtanen
Edler-Stecher
Del Zotto-Tanev
Hutton-Biega
STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:
Power Play:
Chicago 15.3% (28th)
Vancouver 22.1% (6th)
Penalty Kill:
Chicago 81.9% (14th)
Vancouver 77.6% (25th)
Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
Chicago 53.2% (2nd)
Vancouver 47.9% (26th)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 49.5% (T-18th)
Vancouver 48.9% (23rd)
SUMMARY:
All season Blackhawks players and coaches have talked about needing to, “string together some wins.” At this point in the season, and looking ahead on their schedule, this may be their best time to do it. Riding a two-game winning streak, the Hawks face the Vancouver Canucks tonight, followed by a home and home series with the Calgary Flames. With the Canucks rebuilding, and the Flames a few points ahead in the standings, turning this two-game win streak into a five-game win streak could go a long way in the Blackhawks playoff chances.
The Canucks are coming off an overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, and gave the Blackhawks fits the last time the two teams met. On December 28th, the Canucks ran the Hawks out of the building in a 5-2 win. Despite the Canucks record, they do have some good young fire power up front led by All-Star game MVP Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat.
As mentioned, the Blackhawks come into tonight’s game with that two-game winning streak after an impressive win in Nashville Tuesday night. The Blackhawks played really well the first 40 minutes, with goals by David Kampf and Vinnie Hinostroza, but were saved by Anton Forsberg in the third, who saved 42 of 43 shots on net. Forsberg’s play has really stood out over the last few games, and his stats are beginning to show it, with his goals against average falling under three, and his save percentage rising each game, now up to .915%.
Let’s hope for the sake of all us crazy Hawks fans who will be staying up to watch this nine o’clock start, that they come out and play well. There is nothing worse than losing sleep to watch the Blackhawks play a disinterested hockey game.
Please join the always entertaining conversation below! Look for a game recap tonight or tomorrow AM.