The Blackhawks return home for the first time since Nov. 15 to face the Anaheim Ducks in the first of 10 games over the next 18 days for Chicago. The game will be the first of three meetings this season between the clubs.
Chicago Blackhawks (11-8-3) at Anaheim Ducks (10-9-4)
5:30 PM Pacific/7:30 PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports Chicago/Fox Sports West
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Corey Crawford (10-7-1, 2.16 GAA, .935 save%)
Anaheim:
John Gibson (7-8-1, 2.87 GAA, .923 save%
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago
Saad-Toews-Panik
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
Sharp-Hartman-DeBrincat
Bouma-Wingels-Hayden
Keith-Franson
Murphy-Seabrook
Forsling-Rutta
Anaheim
Ritchie-Grant-Perry
Cogliano-Wagner-Silfverberg
Shaw-Vermette-Roy
Liambas-Kossila-Holzer
Lindholm-Manson
Fowler-Vatanen
Bieksa-Montour
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Chicago 16.3% (24th)
Anaheim: 16.2% (26th)
Penalty kill:
Chicago 85.2% (3rd)
Anaheim: 83.2% (9th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5)
Chicago 51.2% (10th)
Anaheim: 45.9% (31st)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 48.4% (25th)
Anaheim: 51.7% (7th)
SUMMARY:
The Blackhawks come back to Chicago for the first time in nearly two weeks, facing a walking wounded Anaheim group that will be without Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Patrick Eaves, Rickard Rakell, and Ondrej Kase. While the Blackhawks have nearly turned a corner in the season after looking shaky at best to begin the year, winning four of their last five games, the Ducks come into town on a three-game skid.
Look for the Blackhawks to continue their recent stretch against a hobbled Anaheim squad that has had trouble scoring, only netting four goals during their three-game losing streak. If the Blackhawks line groupings continue to gel as they have over the last few games, and top-line scoring can continue over from the win over the Panthers, Chicago could find themselves officially on a roll.