Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks vs Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche (34–29–12) vs Chicago Blackhawks (32–32–10)

7:00pm CST
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSN/WGN

PROJECTED STARTERS

Chicago – Cam Ward (14–11–4, SV%: .893, GAA: 3.72)
Colorado – Semyon Varlamov (19–18–9, SV%: .910, GAA: 2.86)

TEAM STATISTICS

Power Play
Chicago (20.4%, 14th)
Colorado (21.7%, 8th)

Penalty Kill
Chicago (73.4%, 31st)
Colorado (77.9%, 27th)

Shorts for/against
Chicago (32.5, 11th; 34.9, 30th)
Colorado (33.0, 5th; 31.7, T18th)

Shooting %
Chicago (10.2%, 8th)
Colorado (9.6%, 13th)

Faceoff %
Chicago (49.4%, 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

Duncan Keith–Erik Gustafsson

Gustav Forsling–Brent Seabrook

Carl Dahlstrom–Connor Murphy

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

Samuel Girard–Erik Johnson

Ian Cole–Tyson Barrie

Patrik Nemeth–Nikita Zadorov

Analysis

After yesterday’s disappointing loss, the Blackhawks now sit six points out of the final wild card spot after Colorado gained two points, now sitting at 80. Not only did Colorado better their position in the race, but Arizona and Minnesota both improved over the last two days and currently sit at 79 points in the standings. The gap that the Blackhawks need to make up has now grown larger.

Today’s game will show a lot about this Blackhawks team. If they are a playoff team, they will respond today and go into Arizona looking to take two points as well. Every game now down the stretch is truly the most important game of the season.

The Avalanche were able to capture two points yesterday despite missing both Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. It’s uncertain if Rantanen will play today, but whether he does or not, the Avalanche certainly have the edge going into this evening’s contest.

The Blackhawks will show who they truly are in this playoff race. Are they a contender or a pretender?

Comment below in our live game thread tonight!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game tomorrow morning on the-rink.com.