The pickings get perhaps easier tonight, as the Blackhawks host Arizona, who are on the 2nd game of a road back-to-back, losing 1-0 last night in Columbus.
Arizona Coyotes (7-17-4) at Chicago Blackhawks (12-11-5)
6:00 PM Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: WGN/Fox Sports Arizona
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Arizona:
Antti Raanta (4-6-2, 2.68 GAA, .919 save%)
Chicago:
Corey Crawford (12-7-0, 2.27 GAA, .930 save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Arizona
Keller-Stepan-Rieder
Domi-Dvorak-Fischer
Perlini-Strome-Duclair
Martinook-Richardson-Rinaldo
Ekman Larsson-Demers
Chychrun-Goligoski
Capobianco-Schenn
Chicago
Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
Sharp-Hinostroza-Panik
Bouma-Wingels-Hayden
Keith-Murphy
Forsling-Rutta
Oesterle-Seabrook
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Arizona 16.8% (25th)
Chicago 15.8% (29th)
Penalty kill:
Arizona 81.4% (14th)
Chicago 83.3% (5th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5)
Arizona 47.0% (28th)
Chicago 52.4% (7th)
Faceoffs:
Arizona 47.8% (26th)
Chicago 48.7% (25th)
SUMMARY:
The Blackhawks get a double dose of what they needed, following up Friday’s home game against the Sabres with another home matchup against struggling Arizona. This is the second game of a road back-to-back for the Coyotes, having lost 1-0 in Columbus last night, a game I had the opportunity to see first hand.
The Coyotes, especially goalie Antti Raanta, played fairly well against a good team. The former Hawk netminder gave up an early marker to Josh Anderson, who was left wide open, and roofed one over Raanta’s left shoulder. Otherwise, the Coyotes pretty much locked it down and matched the Blue Jackets overall.
There are differing reports as to whether Raanta or Scott Wedgewood will start in net tonight in Chicago.
The Hawks enter tonight’s game a little banged up; there was some question whether Lance Bouma and Cody Franson would play. It appears Bouma will and Franson won’t.
The Hawks need to use a game like this, not only to add two points and bolster their playoff hopes, but also to continue to develop any confidence and and consistency arising from their last outing against Buffalo.
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM.
Follow: @jaeckel