Los Angeles Kings (31-22-5) @ Chicago Blackhawks (25-26-8)
7:30PM Central
TV: WGN, Fox Sports West
RADIO: WGN 720
PROJECTED GOALIES:
LA:
Jonathan Quick (22-21-2, 2.51 GAA, .920 save%)
Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (6-11-3, 2.95 GAA, .908 Save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
LA:
Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Kempe-Mitchell
Clifford-Thompson-Toffoli
Andreoff-Amadio-Brodzinski
Forbort-Doughty
Phaneuf-Martinez
Muzzin-Folin
Chicago:
Saad-Toews-Wingels
Anisimov-Schmaltz -Kane
Sharp-Hartman-DeBrincat
Bouma-Kampf-Hinostroza
Keith-Oesterle
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Dahlstrom-Murphy
STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:
Power Play:
LA 19.4% (18th)
Chicago 16.1% (29th)
Penalty Kill:
LA 83.4% (3rd)
Chicago 82.9% (5th)
SUMMARY:
With the trade of Michal Kempny and near-elimination from the playoffs, it’s now looking more and more like the Hawks have their sights set on next year.
Still, the atmosphere surrounding the team has to feel a bit more bright, coming off a 7-1 home ice thrashing of the Washington Capitals.
Anton Forsberg gets the net yet again—and with the demotion of Jeff Glass and an increasingly likely shutdown of Corey Crawford for the season, this could be Forsberg’s best opportunity to really show the team what he can do.
Forsberg was fine in the Washington rout—but he also basically wasn’t tested. In his previous outing versus Anaheim, Forsberg was beaten up high on three chances, but also came up big several times. For Forsberg, the challenge is showing he can be a reasonable “2-goal a game” goalie, assuming his defense keeps shot totals down in the mid 30s or lower. Which is assuming a lot with this Hawk defense.
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM. Join the conversation below!
Follow: @jaeckel