The 8-8-2 Blackhawks host the New York Rangers in an Original 6 matchup tonight, as both teams look to improve less than stellar starts to 2017-2018 season.
New York Rangers (9-7-2) at Chicago Blackhawks (8-8-2)
8PM Eastern/7PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports
PROJECTED GOALIES:
New York:
Henrik Lundqvist (8-4-2, 2.92 GAA, .905 save%)
Chicago:
Corey Crawford (7-7-0, 2.21 GAA, .932 save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
New York
Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Nash-Hayes-Zuccarello
Vesey-Desharnais-Miller
Grabner-Nieves-Fast
McDonagh-Holden
Skjei-Shattenkirk
Staal-Kampfer
Chicago
Saad-Toews-Panik
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
Sharp-Wingels -DeBrincat
Bouma-Kero-Hartman
Keith-Franson
Murphy-Seabrook
Forsling-Rutta
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power Play:
New York 25.8% (3rd)
Chicago 14.3% (28th)
Penalty Kill:
New York 81.4% (12th)
Chicago 83.6% (10th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5)
New York 48.3% (23rd)
Chicago 51.0% (11th)
Faceoffs:
New York 50.9% (12th)
Chicago 48.2% (24th)
SUMMARY:
Broken record time: the Blackhawks need to play well tonight. Just play well, and hope that stellar goaltender Corey Crawford can then carry them to a much-needed two points.
Coming off a deflating 7-5 home loss to New Jersey, where Chicago blew a 4-1 lead, one encouraging note for the Hawks is their lines and pairings haven’t been shuffled too terribly much. While the usual voices are clamoring for Alex DeBrincat to be moved back into the top 6, they forget that when there, the latest anointed one didn’t do much—it was only after moving out of the top 6 a few games ago, that DeBrincat started putting pucks into nets actually occupied by goalies.
Wisely, Joel Quenneville isn’t terribly disrupting what appears to be some offensive continuity (at least) for his team.
Where the coaching staff and the players must improve dramatically is on the defensive side of the puck, up and down the ice, but especially in their own end.
Look for a recap tonight or early tomorrow.
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