Puck Drop: Dec. 23, 6:00 PM CT
Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 17-15-2
Points: 36
Place: t-3rd in Central, t-10th in Western Conference
Power Play Percentage/Rank: 18.6%, 13th in NHL
Penalty Kill Percentage/Rank: 84.1%, 11th in NHL
Blackhawks Team Statistics
vs.
Edmonton Oilers
Record: 16-17-3
Points: 35
Place: 5th in Northwest, t-12th in Western Conference
Power Play Percentage/Rank: 12.3%, 30th in NHL
Penalty Kill Percentage/Rank: 84.8%, 7th in NHL
Oilers Team Statistics
Hawks are finishing off the second game of a back-to-back tonight, looking to build off the momentum they picked up from last night when they defeated the Senators 4-3 in overtime. Martin Havlat’s status is up in the air tonight, after suffering a groin injury in last night’s game. If he doesn’t play, I would guess we’ll see Sergei Samsonov replace him in the lineup.
The Hawks are 3-0-2 in their last five games against Edmonton at home. They last played the Oilers this year on November 24th when they lost 3-2 in the shootout, but that was when seemingly half the team was out with the flu. With the Hawks healthy besides Havlat, I think they are more talented then Edmonton, and if they aren’t too fatigued from playing last night, and come ready to play tonight, things should be looking up for Chicago in this one.