Nick Schmaltz returns as Hawks visit Blues for ‘Rivalry Night’
Chicago has its No. 2 center back against St. Louis.
The Chicago Blackhawks return to the ice Wednesday night when they travel to the Scottrade Center to face their Central Division opponents, the St. Louis Blues in NBCSN’s Rivalry Night.
Nick Schmaltz looks set to make his return to the Blackhawks lineup Wednesday night after missing four games due to an upper-body injury. Schmaltz has played just 16 minutes for Chicago this season, but accounted for two goals and one assist in the season opener.
Since Schmaltz’s absence, Patrick Kane has not tallied a goal for the Hawks. Here’s hoping that with the return of their center, the Kane-Schmaltz-Hartman line can have a few more repeat performances of the season opener.
The Blackhawks head into Wednesday with a 4-1-1 record, good for first in the Central Division. The Blues 4-2-0 record so far this season puts them in third in the division, tied with the Avalanche for eight points. The Blues will be without center Robby Fabbri, who is to miss the full season from a torn ACL.
Corey Crawford will get the nod for the Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Crawford has a 4-1 record this season, while boasting a .960 save percentage and 1.39 goals against average.
Jake Allen is likely to get the start in net for the Blues. In five games played this season, Allen has a 3-2 record, adding a .917 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average.
To make what should be a great matchup even more special, Eddie Olczyk will return to the broadcast booth for Wednesday’s game!
Projected lineups
Blackhawks
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| F1 | Brandon Saad - Jonathan Toews - Richard Panik |
| F2 | Ryan Hartman - Nick Schmaltz - Patrick Kane |
| F3 | Patrick Sharp - Artem Anisimov - Alex DeBrincat |
| F4 | Lance Bouma - Tommy Wingels - John Hayden |
| D1 | Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook |
| D2 | Gustav Forsling - Jan Rutta |
| D3 | Michal Kempny - Connor Murphy |
| Goaltender | Corey Crawford |
Blues
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| F1 | Magnus Paajarvi - Paul Stastny - Vladimir Tarasenko |
| F2 | Jaden Schwartz - Brayden Schenn - Samuel Blais |
| F3 | Vladimir Sobotka - Ivan Barbashev - Dmitrij Jaskin |
| F4 | Scottie Upshall - Oskar Sundqvist - Kyle Brodziak |
| D1 | Joel Edmundson - Alex Pietrangelo |
| D2 | Carl Gunnarsson - Colton Parayko |
| D3 | Vince Dunn - Robert Bortuzzo |
| Goaltender | Jake Allen |
How to watch Blackhawks at Blues
Start time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Scottrade Center, St. Louis
TV: NBCSN
