Preview & Game Thread: Blackhawks-Maple Leafs

  

Toronto Maple Leafs (26-18-5) at Chicago Blackhawks (22-19-6)

7:00PM Central

RADIO: WGN 720

PROJECTED GOALIES:

Chicago:

Jeff Glass (3-3-3, 3.17 GAA, .909 Save%)

Toronto:

Frederik Anderson (23-14-4, 2.69 GAA, .920 Save%)

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:

Chicago:

Saad-Toews-Duclair
Sharp-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Hartman
Jurco-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Oesterle
Gustafsson-Seabrook
Kempny-Murphy

Toronto:

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Marner
Van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Brown
Komarov-Moore-Kapanen

Gardiner-Hainsey
Dermott-Carrick
Borgman-Polak

STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:

Power Play:

Chicago 14.8% (T-29th)

Toronto 20.4% (T-10th)

Penalty Kill:

Chicago 82.5% (T-9th)

Toronto 83.8% (T-4th)

Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):

Chicago 53.5% (2nd)

Toronto 50.2% (16th)

Faceoffs:

Chicago 49.7% (17th)

Toronto 51.7% (8th)


SUMMARY:

Well, it’s going to be tough for the Blackhawks to stop their losing streak at three games with a tough opponent coming into the United Center tonight. The young and dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs arrive in Chicago looking to avenge a loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.

Although the Leafs are extremely talented up front, they have lost five of their last six games, which may be the only hope Blackhawks fans after watching their team continue to fall in the standings. Currently seven points out of the final wild card spot, the Blackhawks need to make up some ground big time, as they are running out of time to gain significant ground in the standings. It goes without saying, but this is a must win game for the Hawks. I don’t remember the last time I said that in January as a Blackhawks fan, but that is the reality of the 2017-18 team.

In other news, it was reported that Corey Crawford has been back with the team working out, fueling some hope that he may return before the seasons end. But, if the Blackhawks don’t string together a winning streak here soon, it may not be worth it for him to play again this season.

We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM. Join the The Rink staff and other Rinkrats for this game tonight!

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Center Ice Forums Preview & Game Thread: Blackhawks-Maple Leafs

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 26 total)
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  • #3947
    Tyler Majewski
    Participant

    Toronto Maple Leafs (26-18-5) at Chicago Blackhawks (22-19-6) 7:00PM Central RADIO: WGN 720 PROJECTED GOALIES: Chicago: Jeff Glass (3-3-3, 3.17 GAA, .
    [To continue reading full article, click here: Preview & Game Thread: Blackhawks-Maple Leafs]

    #3961
    John Jaeckel
    Participant

    Thx for hosting, Ty.

    #3964
    hawkeytalk
    Participant

    Should be interesting to see what we get out of our Hawks tonight. Does anyone have an idea of the general vibe inside the locker room? I know on the outside we fans are in a bit of turmoil trying to figure out what this team is and where they’re going – I would think the coaches and players are feeling something similar. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything or has an inklings on the locker room atmosphere this year?

    #3965
    fattybeef
    Participant

    Matthews is a beast and super fun to watch. He probably gets a brace today.

    Should be an interesting game.

    Sharp skating with 8 and 88 is the worst. They would probably be better off with Debrincat, warts and all, on that off side.

    #3971
    Tyler Majewski
    Participant

    Excited to watch Matthews, Marner and the rest of the crew even at the expense of the Hawks

    #3978
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Looking forward to this one. Leafs play with a lot of speed. I’d like to see Murphy swat some of em at the blue line

    #3983
    Mewirtz
    Participant

    Schmaltz misses gaping net

    #3985
    Chico Maki
    Participant

    [quote quote=3965]Matthews is a beast and super fun to watch. He probably gets a brace today. Should be an interesting game. Sharp skating with 8 and 88 is the worst. They would probably be better off with Debrincat, warts and all, on that off side.

    [/quote]

     

    It would be hard to skate Cat with Kane and Schmatlz.  That would be three little guys on one line.

     

     

    #3986
    hawkeytalk
    Participant

    [quote quote=3983]Schmaltz misses gaping net

    [/quote]

    Man… that little move he made to get in after that was slick. Long term, Schmaltz playing with and learning from Kane is going to be good for everyone in Hawkland, and it has shown more and more over the course of the year – one more solid summer working together and those 2 are going to be a really scary duo.

    What have people been thinking about Jurco’s play? I haven’t really noticed him, so am curious to hear from those that have.

     

     

    #3987
    Chico Maki
    Participant

    Holy crap….a PP goal!!

    #3988
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    A …. what was that? Did the blackhawks….score? on the POWER PLAY?

    #3989
    hawkeytalk
    Participant

    [quote quote=3987]Holy crap….a PP goal!!

    [/quote]

    I know it was a quick one, but they looked faster and were moving to start that PP. Hopefully a sign of things to come!

    Side note: Toews at top speed still looks good and fast, but it seems like he doesn’t play at top speed hardly at all unless he’s about to be on an odd man rush, and sometimes not even then. That last play with that drop pass to Kane as an example.

    #3990
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Fed up with the cutesy drop passes to well-covered areas. Spread out a little, nobody is buying it.

    #3991
    Mewirtz
    Participant

    Glass just looks so shaky at times

    #3992
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Toews should have gone for a change and let Kane work with Saad on that play. He killed the play in the ozone twice in a row

    Decent shift afterward though.

    #3993

    Liking these line combos a bit more

    #3994
    Mewirtz
    Participant

    Nice play by Murphy

    #3995
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thank you so much Seabrook.

    #4001
    Jeff Osborn
    Keymaster

    I don’t necessarily blame Seabrook for that icing.  I have a hunch that Glass or the Bench were yelling icing.

    #4002

    The Linesman made no signal or call on the play either.

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