Game 53 Preview And Open Thread: Blackhawks @ Oilers

Puck Drop: Feb. 6, 8:00 PM CST

Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 23-24-5
Points: 51
Place: 5th in Central, 14th in Western Conference
Power Play Percentage/Rank: 15.6%, 25th in NHL
Penalty Kill Percentage/Rank: 81.3%, 19th in NHL
Blackhawks Team Statistics

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Edmonton Oilers
Record: 24-26-5
Points: 53
Place: 5th in Northwest, 13th in Western Conference
Power Play Percentage/Rank: 15.1%, 27th in NHL
Penalty Kill Percentage/Rank: 85%, 5th in NHL
Oilers Team Statistics

Hawks Lineup:

Offense
1st line: LW Sharp - C St. Pierre - RW Havlat
2nd line: LW Kane - C Lang - RW Byfuglien
3rd line: LW Ruutu - C Perreault - RW Skille
4th line: LW Bourque - C Burish - RW Lapointe

Defense
1st pairing: Keith/Seabrook
2nd pairing: Hendry/Sopel
3rd pairing: Barker/Wisniewski

Goalie
Lalime

Scratches: Zyuzin (healthy), Adams (healthy), Eager (healthy)
Injured Reserve: Adam, Toews, Williams

The Hawks are looking to snap a four game winless streak tonight in Edmonton. This team is already barely hanging by a thread when it comes to playoff chances, so really every game feels like a must-win at this point. Patrick Lalime is back in the net, and deservedly so, because he's the best goalie on the roster currently. Khabibulin was good in San Jose, but Lalime has been better for the past month or so. Craig Adams is a healthy scratch, and that's a good thing, because he's been completely useless. I have no idea why the Hawks traded for him in the first place.