Colorado Avalanche (33–29–12) vs Chicago Blackhawks (32–31–10)
2:00pm CST
Pepsi Center
TV/Radio: NBCSCH/WGN
PROJECTED STARTERS
Chicago – Corey Crawford (12–16–3, SV%: .908, GAA: 3.03)
Colorado – Semyon Varlamov (19–18–9, SV%: .910, GAA: 2.86)
TEAM STATISTICS
Power Play
Chicago (20.6%, 13th)
Colorado (21.8%, 8th)
Penalty Kill
Chicago (73.3%, 31st)
Colorado (77.6%, 27th)
Shorts for/against
Chicago (32.4, 12th; 35.0, 30th)
Colorado (33.1, 5th; 31.7, 19th)
Shooting %
Chicago (10.2%, 7th)
Colorado (9.5%, 14th)
Faceoff %
Chicago (49.3%, 21st)
Colorado (48.4%, 26th)
Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 195lbs
Colorado 6’1” 201lbs
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS
Chicago Blackhawks
Dylan Sikura–Jonathan Toews–Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat–Dylan Strome–Brendan Perlini
Brandon Saad–Artem Anisimov–Dominik Kahun
Chris Kunitz–David Kampf–Marcus Kruger
Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook
Colorado Avalanche
Derick Brassard–Nathan MacKinnon–J.T. Compher
Colin Wilson–Carl Soderberg–Mikko Rantanen
Alexander Kerfoot–Tyson Jost–Matt Calvert
Sven Andrighetto–Gabriel Bourque–Ryan Graves
Analysis
The Blackhawks remain five points out of the second wild card position after the Minnesota Wild beat the Washington Capitals on Friday night. The two teams between the Blackhawks and that second wild card spot both have 78 points entering play today. The Coyotes have hit a small slide after being red-hot and the Avalanche have continued consistent play to remain in the hunt. The Blackhawks have an opportunity to pass the Avalanche with four points this weekend in the home-and-home that begins today.
It is no secret that the Blackhawks’ two most important games occur this weekend. At this point, every game is the most important. However, a possible four point swing in either direction can either enhance the Blackhawks’ playoff chances, or completely wipe them out of the playoff picture.
Key players will need to step up for the Blackhawks. With Drake Caggiula still injured, the lines that were once clicking during the Blackhawks long win streak have been split. The chemistry has been off, and the Blackhawks could use that consistency once again to remain in the hunt. Therefore, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat and Brandon Saad will need to provide a lot of offense if the rest of the team cannot provide the necessary depth.
The Colorado Avalanche sit one point back of the Minnesota Wild entering play on Saturday. The Avalanche have won 5 of their last 7 games, allowing them to cement themselves in the playoff picture. It currently looks like a three team race for the second wild card spot with Minnesota, Arizona and Colorado all within one point of each other. The Blackhawks can quickly change that this weekend, however, if they can steal four points from the Avalanche.
The Avalanche are short-handed without captain Gabriel Landeskog. Landeskog was injured a few weeks ago with an upper body injury. His loss was a major loss to the Avalanche, not only because of his off-ice presence, but because Landeskog set a career high in points (69) despite only playing in 68 games.