Preview/Game Thread: Blackhawks vs Sharks

  

San Jose Sharks (17–11–5) at Chicago Blackhawks (10–18–6)

6:00pm CST
United Center
TV/Radio: WGN/WGN


PROJECTED STARTERS

ChicagoCorey Crawford (6–14–2, SV%: .903, GAA: 3.23)
San Jose– Martin Jones (13–7–3, SV%: .901, GAA: 2.83)

 

TEAM STATISTICS

Power Play
Chicago (11.9%, 31st)
San Jose (23.0%, 9th)

Penalty Kill
Chicago (73.3%, 31st)
San Jose (84.6%, 3rd)

Shorts for/against
Chicago (32.2, 12th; 34.0, 28th)
San Jose (34.7, 3rd; 28.8, 5th)

Shooting %
Chicago (8.8%, 27th)
San Jose (9.2%, 24th)

Faceoff %
Chicago (50.2%,13th)

San Jose (49.9%, 17th)

Avg. height/weight
Chicago 6’1”, 197lbs
San Jose 6’1” 200lbs

 

PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS

Chicago Blackhawks
Brandon SaadJonathan ToewsDominik Kahun
Alex DeBrincatDylan StromePatrick Kane
Dylan SikuraDavid KampfBrendan Perlini
John HaydenMarcus KrugerAndreas Martinsen
Duncan KeithHenri Jokiharju
Brent SeabrookBrandon Manning
Carl DahlstromConnor Murphy

San Jose Sharks
Tomas HertlLogan CoutureTimo Meier

Evander KaneJoe PavelskiJoonas Donskoi
Marcus SorensenJoe ThorntonKevin Labanc
Barclay GoodrowLukas RadilMelker Karlsson
Brenden DillonErik Karlsson
Radim SimekBrent Burns
Marc-Edouard VlasicJustin Braun

 

Analysis

The Blackhawks are now last in the league in both power play (11.9%) and penalty kill (73.3%) percentages. It’s a bad sign when fans joke about “declining the penalty” when given a power play. What is the issue? Many coaches (head and assistant) have tried to figure that out without success.

Chicago also resides in the basement in goal differential (-32) in the league. This stat can get skewed from one poor showing (or great one), but over time, does provide a metric for the team’s performance.

Corey Crawford will be in net tonight. The 33-year old has registered a save percentage over .900 only three times in his last ten starts, allowing three plus goals in all ten games. High percentage chances allowed plays a role in his struggles. However, a lgetimate “goalie win” has not been registered in over a month.

San Jose enters tonight on a three-game winning streak. Forward Timo Meier netted four goals the past two games. The 22-year old also leads the Sharks in points (32) and second in goals (18) behind Center Joe Pavelski (20 goals).


Comment below in our live game thread tonight!

And look for the internet’s most robust recap of the game tomorrow morning on the-rink.com. 

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