Preview: Blackhawks at Penguins

  

 

The Blackhawks are in Pittsburgh tonight. Chicago beat the Penguins 10-1 in their season opener. However, both teams’ fortunes have changed somewhat since.

 

Chicago Blackhawks (9-8-2) at Pittsburgh Penguins (11-7-3)

7PM Eastern/6PM Central

RADIO: WGN 720

TV: WGN, AT&TSN Pittsburgh

 

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Chicago:

Corey Crawford (8-7-0, 2.26 GAA, .930 save%)

Pittsburgh:

Matt Murray (11-4-1, 2.85 GAA, .906 save%)

 

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Chicago

Saad-Toews-Panik

Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane

Sharp-Hartman-DeBrincat

Bouma-Wingels-Hayden

Keith-Franson

Murphy-Seabrook

Forsling-Rutta

 

Pittsburgh

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust

Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel

Sheary-Sheahan-Hornqvist

Kuhnhackl-McKegg-Reaves

DuMoulin-Letang

Maatta-Ruhwedel

Cole-Schultz

 

STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:

Power Play:

Chicago 14.6% (29th)

Pittsburgh 23.8% (4th)

Penalty Kill:

Chicago 84.3% (8th)

Pittsburgh 78.3% (22nd)

Corsi For% (5-on-5):

Chicago 51.2% (10th)

Pittsburgh 51.1% (11th)

Faceoffs:

Chicago 48.3% (24th)

Pittsburgh 49.9% (19th)

 

SUMMARY:

After a rough start to the season including a 10-1 loss to the Blackhawks, the Pens have been playing well since, and present a tough test for Chicago. The Hawks are coming off a 6-3 win over the Rangers, where they played very well over the last 40 minutes.

The ongoing challenge for Chicago is achieving consistency in execution—playing sound, smart hockey up and down the ice and minimizing mistakes, especially in their own end, but also in terms of avoid over-commitment and allowing odd-man breaks.

We’ll have a recap on the-rink.com after the game, and commentary later tonight or tomorrow as well.

 

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Center Ice Forums Preview: Blackhawks at Penguins

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    John Jaeckel
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      The Blackhawks are in Pittsburgh tonight. Chicago beat the Penguins 10-1 in their season opener. However, both teams’ fortunes have changed som
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