Anaheim Ducks (27-20-11) @ Chicago Blackhawks (24-24-8)
7:30PM Central
TV: NBCSChi
RADIO: WGN 720
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Chicago:
Anton Forsberg (5-10-3, 3.05 GAA, .907 Save%)
Anaheim:
John Gibson (19-15-6, 2.58 GAA, .922 Save%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Chicago:
Saad-Toews-Wingels
Bouma-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Hartman-DeBrincat
Hinostroza-Anisimov-Duclair
Keith-Oesterle
Kempny-Seabrook
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Anaheim:
Rakell-Getzlaf-Perry
Cogliano-Kesler-Silverberg
Ritchie-Henrique-Kase
Wagner-Vermette-Brown
Lindholm-Manson
Fowler-Bieksa
Beauchemin-Montour
STATISTICAL COMPARISIONS:
Power Play:
Chicago 15.8% (29th)
Anaheim 17.4% (24th)
Penalty Kill:
Chicago 82.5% (T-8th)
Anaheim 81.3% (15th)
Corsi FOR % (5-on-5):
Chicago 53.5% (2nd)
Anaheim 48.2% (23rd)
Faceoffs:
Chicago 49.4% (T-18th)
Anaheim 51.4% (T-8th)
SUMMARY:
How low can they go? Seven straight losses and no signs of ending that streak leaves the Blackhawks organization in the lowest of lows since the 2006-2007 season, the year before Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. For the first time in my life I am speechless, and that never happens. The front office seems lost, the coaching staff is burnt out, and the players are lacking the confidence that has defined them the last decade. So, what’s next?
Well, the Anaheim Ducks arrive at the United Center playing some pretty disappointing hockey themselves. They have lost five of their last seven games, and are currently on the outside looking in from a playoff standpoint, three points out of the final wild card spot. With a roster filled with goons such as: Nick Ritchie, Corey Perry, and Kevin Bieksa, I would expect them to come out playing desperate and borderline-dirty hockey.
Maybe the Ducks can spark some passion out of the Blackhawks by participating in their usual antics. But, after watching this Hawks team for 57 games, it is unreasonable to think they will respond to anything that happens with a legitimate energy or passion. Despite this harsh reality, I am desperate to cling to any hope of entertaining hockey. So, I will sit on my couch and hope for the best, and expect the worst like the rest of Blackhawks fans.
Expect to see the line combinations, both at forward and defense, to be interchangeable throughout the game, as Coach Joel Quenneville looks to find any sign of the, “consistency and predictability,” he has searched for all year.
ENJOY!!!
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM. Join the always entertaining conversation below!
Follow: @CoachMajewski