Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg Jets Preview & Game Thread

Chicago Blackhawks (30-32-8) @ Winnipeg Jets (41-19-10)

7:00PM Central

RADIO: WGN 720

TV: TSN3, NBCSCH

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (9-14-3, 2.94 GAA, .908 Save%)

Winnipeg:
Connor Hellebuyck (35-11-9, 2.36 GAA, .925 Save%)

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Chicago:

Saad-Toews-Kane
DeBrincat-Schmaltz-Hayden
Jurco-Anisimov-HIghmore
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Murphy
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Oesterle-Rutta

Winnipeg:

Connor-Little-Wheeler
Ehlers-Stastny-Laine
Perreault-Copp-Armia
Dano-Roslovic-Tanev

Morrissey-Myers
Chiarot-Byfuglien
Poolman-Morrow

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:

Power Play:
Chicago 15.9% (28^th)
Winnipeg 24.1% (3^rd)

Penalty Kill:
Chicago 80.4% (15^th)
Winnipeg 83.0% (4^th)

Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
Chicago 52.88% (4^th)
Winnipeg 50.89% (15^th)

Faceoffs:
Chicago 49.8% (T-18^th)
Winnipeg 52.4% (5^th)

SUMMARY:

Did someone say winning streak? Coming off Sunday’s impressive 3-1 home victory over the Boston Bruins, the Blackhawks looks to make it two straight tonight. In order to do so, they will have to defeat one of the best teams in their division, the Winnipeg Jets, on the road.

Winnipeg has lost three straight, but are fast, physical, and featuring deadline acquisition Paul Stastny, so they are still very dangerous.

The biggest thing I would like to see in tonight’s game, and each of the remaining games, is improvement from guys who will be on this roster next season. Erik Gustafsson, Jan Rutta, Connor Murphy, Vinnie Hinostroza, John Hayden, and Alex DeBrincat, among others, need to keep improving and performing at a higher level every night. That is the only way this team will have any chance to contend next year, regardless of any off season acquisitions.

We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM. Join the conversation below!

Follow: @CoachMajewski