Preview/Game Thread: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Arizona Coyotes

  

Chicago Blackhawks (12—12—5) vs. Arizona Coyotes (17—10—4)

6 p.m. CST
United Center
TV/Radio: NBCSN/WGN

Projected starting goaltenders

ChicagoRobin Lehner (6–5–3, .929 save percentage, 2.71 goals against average,)
ArizonaDarcy Kuemper (12–6–2, .937 save percentage, 1.92 goals against average)

Team statistics

Power play
Chicago (14.9%, 26th)
Arizona (19.6%, 11th)

Penalty kill
Chicago (80.4%, 17th)
Arizona (81.8%, 14th)

Shots for/against
Chicago (31.2, 17th; 35.7, 29th)
Arizona (29.6, 20th; 32.4, 22nd)

Shooting percentage
Chicago (8.7%,)
Arizona (8.8%, )

Face off percentage
Chicago (48.9%, 23rd)
Arizona (48.5%, 25th)

Projected lines and pairings

Chicago Blackhawks

Brandon Saad — Jonathan Toews Alexander Nylander
Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane
Dominik Kubalik — David Kampf — Kirby Dach
Dylan Sikura — Ryan Carpenter — Zack Smith

Slater Koekkoek — Erik Gustafsson
Calvin de Haan — Brent Seabrook
Olli Maatta — Connor Murphy

Arizona Coyotes

Clayton Keller Derek Stepan Vinnie Hinostroza
Christian DvorakNick Schmaltz Christian Fischer
Lawson CrouseCarl Soderberg Phil Kessel
Michael GrabnerBrad RichardsonConor Garland

Oliver Ekman-LarssonJason Demers
Jakob Chychrun —Alex Goligoski
Jordan OesterleIlya Lyubushkin

Analysis

The roller coaster that is the Blackhawks season continues. After defeating the New Jersey Devils in a shootout, the Blackhawks are now ascending on a two-game winning streak. If the roller coaster ride continues how is high this hill for the team? Is another huge lift hill with a huge drop or is it a bunny hill with a small drop? We shall wait and see.

In their last contest, Corey Crawford made 29 of 30 saves and notched his 250th career win. Crawford joins only Glen Hall and Tony Esposito as the only goalies in franchise history with 250 wins. He was not the only player to reach a milestone in their last contest: Kirby Dach created history. He scored his first professional shootout goal in his first shootout opportunity against the Devils. Dach has continued to impress this season.

In addition to being busy on the ice, the Blackhawks were busy off the ice. The team has recalled Dylan Sikura for the first time this season. Sikura has been shining down in Rockford, with nine goals and 16 points with the IceHogs before his recall. He replaces Anton Wedin, who appeared in four games and had no points.

Sikura will make his NHL debut this season against the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes are coming into the United Center following a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in which they were shutout. The Yotes offense hopes to get going against Robin Lehner tonight. If Arizona wants to have any success against the Blackhawks, they need to continue to get points from their points leader Nick Schmaltz. He has five goals and 15 assists on the season. Schmaltz, along with many others, need to generate offensively for Arizona.

In the net for the Coyotes is Darcy Kuemper and not former Blackhawks goalie Annti Raanta. Kuemper gets the nod despite impressive numbers from Raanta at the United Center (16-0-3, .968 save percentage). Kuemper will be looking to build his last start, which was an impressive 3-1 win against Philadelphia.

With Chicago ties all over the ice, this game should be an energy-filled contest. Can the Blackhawks continue their ascent or will the Arizona Coyotes carve their way to a victory?

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