The Blackhawks continue their homestand, hosting the Florida Panthers tonight at the UC—their third straight game against a “beatable” opponent on home ice.
Florida Panthers (12-14-4) at Chicago Blackhawks (14-11-5)
8:30 PM Eastern/7:30 Central
RADIO: WGN 720
TV: NBC Sports Chicago/Fox Sports Florida
PROJECTED GOALIES:
Florida:
James Reimer (6-7-3, 3.61 GAA, .894 SV%)
Chicago:
Corey Crawford (13-7-2, 2.21 GAA, .932 SV%)
PROJECTED LINES/PAIRINGS:
Florida
Huberdeau-Barkov-Bjugstad
McGinn-Trocheck-Malgin
Brickley-McCann-Vrbata
Haley-Mackenzie-Sceviour
Yandle-Ekblad
Matheson-Pysyk
Weegar-Petrovic
Chicago
Saad-Toews-DeBrincat
Schmaltz-Anisimov-Kane
Sharp-Hinostroza-Hartman
Bouma-Wingels-Hayden
Keith-Oesterle
Forsling-Rutta
Murphy-Seabrook
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
Power play:
Florida 17.8% (20th)
Chicago 15.6% (29th)
Penalty kill:
Florida 77.3% (25th)
Chicago 83.5% (5th)
Corsi For % (5-on-5)
Florida 48.9% (19th)
Chicago 52.5% (8th)
Faceoffs:
Florida 51.5% (8th)
Chicago 48.9% (25th)
SUMMARY:
For the third straight game, the Blackhawks face a team they should, on paper and in a home game, be capable of beating. But, that’s why they play the games. By their record, and by virtue of having more difference makers in their lineup perhaps than Buffalo or Arizona, the Panthers should present a slightly tougher test to the Hawks.
The scoring floodgates opened a bit for Chicago in the latter stages of Sunday’s win, but it was against a tired Arizona team, playing it’s sixth period of hockey in two days. Put another way, the Hawks are still struggling to score, especially on the power play.
If yesterday’s practice lines are to be trusted, Richard Panik sits tonight and Ryan Hartman plays.
We’ll recap tonight or tomorrow AM.
Follow: @jaeckel