/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62637726/usa_today_10611776.0.jpg)
What’s the one thing every active NHL team aside from the Golden Knights and the Blackhawks have done?
Beat the Golden Knights.
Chicago looks to end its five-game losing streak and pick up its first points against the Golden Knights on Thursday when they visit T-Mobile Arena. It’ll be a tough task for the Blackhawks, who meet a Vegas team that has won six of its last seven games.
The Blackhawks dropped their fifth straight game with a 4-2 loss to the Ducks on Wednesday in Anaheim. Chicago allowed the first goal for the eighth consecutive game and trailed 2-0 at the first intermission, but tied it with two second-period goals by Erik Gustafsson and Alex DeBrincat. Anaheim’s Ondrej Kase tallied the game-winner in the third for the Ducks fifth straight win.
The Golden Knights won the first meeting this season, 8-3 on Nov. 27 at Chicago. The eight goals, including two each from Cody Eakin and Shea Theodore, are a franchise record for the second-year club. One bright spot for Chicago was Dylan Strome scoring in his debut for the Blackhawks. Corey Crawford allowed six goals on 30 shots before he was pulled at the second period for Cam Ward, who made 11 saves.
Vegas defenseman Nate Schmidt scored twice in the final 1:24 of the game Tuesday to lead the Golden Knights to a 5-3 win over the Capitals in a Stanley Cup Final rematch. Schmidt scored the game-winning goal on the power play against his former team before adding a nice empty-netter with 6.9 seconds left.
Marc-Andre Fleury is Vegas’ expected starter between the pipes. He has 15 wins this season, posting a 2.40 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.
Left winger Max Pacioretty will be a game time decision after missing Tuesday’s with a minor injury. If he doesn’t play, Oscar Lindberg will play on the second line and Reid Duke — the first player signed by Vegas — will make his NHL debut, reports Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Chicago did not hold a morning skate.
Corey Crawford gets the back-to-back start. Colliton: "He's the guy. Another chance to bring it."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 7, 2018
Martinsen in for Fortin. Rutta in for Forsling, who is day to day with a shoulder injury (played through it last night, so not a major concern).
Lines will be updated, if necessary, during pre-game warm-ups.
Lineup (Updated 8:40 pm)
Blackhawks
Kampf — Toews — Saad
Kahun — Anisimov — Kane
DeBrincat— Strome — Perlini
Hayden — Kruger — Martinsen
Keith — Jokiharju
Manning — Seabrook
Gustafsson — Rutta
Crawford (back-to-back starts)
Ward
Golden Knights
Marchessault — Karlsson — Smith
Pacioretty — Eakin — Tuch
Lindberg — Carpenter — Nosek
Carrier — Bellemare — Reaves
McNabb — Schmidt
Theodore — Engelland
Holden — Miller
Fleury
Subban
How to watch
Time: 9 p.m.
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV: NBC Sports Chicago