Puck Drop: Nov. 24, 9:00 PM CST
Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 12-8-1
Points: 25
Place: 2nd in Central, t-4th in Western Conference
Power Play Percentage/Rank: 21.5%, 3rd in West, 7th in NHL
Penalty Kill Percentage/Rank: 82.2%, 8th in West, t-14th in NHL
Blackhawks Team Statistics
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Edmonton Oilers
Record: 8-13-1
Points: 17
Place: 5th in Northwest, t-14th in Western Conference
Power Play Percentage/Rank: 11.6%, 15th in West, 30th in NHL
Penalty Kill Percentage/Rank: 84.2%, 6th in West, t-9th in NHL
Flames Team Statistics
The Hawks are facing an Oilers team tonight that has gotten off to a rough start this season and is sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference currently. However, it’s time for a better effort than the one that has been given the past couple games. Though the Hawks picked up wins in each of their last two games, they were lucky to do so and can’t rely on Khabibulin and shorthanded goals every night.
The Hawks are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, and are looking for their third straight win tonight. They’re 2-1-1 so far on this road trip.
The lineup for the Hawks tonight is as follows:
Offense
1st line: LW Versteeg – C Toews – RW Kane
2nd line: LW Perreault – C Lang – RW Samsonov
3rd line: LW Burish – C Sharp – RW Byfuglien
4th line: LW Koci – C Dowell – RW Lapointe
Defense
1st pairing: Keith/Seabrook
2nd pairing: Vandermeer/Wisniewski
3rd pairing: Sopel/Zyuzin
Goalie
Khabibulin
Scratches: Johansson (Healthy), Ruutu (Flu), Williams (Groin)
Injured Reserve: Bourque, Adams, Havlat
Interesting, no Ruutu tonight due to the flu, so Kris Versteeg steps up to the top line to play with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. We’ll see how Versteeg responds playing with some very talented linemates.
UPDATE: Now the official site is saying that Patrick Sharp will also be out with the flu. Tough break, the way he’s been killing penalties lately. James Wisniewski is supposed to play forward to fill in for him. It’s gonna be a depleted Hawks team tonight, they’ll have to work hard for a victory.
If you’re watching or listening to this one tonight, be sure to come around here and leave some comments on the game!