Defenseman Erik Gustafsson will return to the lineup after missing the last two games with a right knee injury when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday at United Center.
Gustafsson, 23, has seven assists in 15 games for Chicago this season. The Swedish defenseman recorded three goals and eight assists in 27 games for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. He will skate on the left side with Michal Rozsival for the third pairing. Rob Scuderi will be a healthy scratch.
Chicago (31-13-4) will try to match a franchise record with their 11th straight victory and sweep the season series against Montreal. The current streak began with a 7-5 win Dec. 29 at Arizona in Gustafsson’s first game in his second stint with the Hawks. Corey Crawford stopped 39 shots Thursday in Montreal for the Blackhawks to grab a 2-1 victory. Jonathan Toews and Ryan Garbutt scored in the first period.
Crawford got a night off Friday with Scott Darling making a start against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Darling was aided by Patrick Kane’s first regular-season hat trick in a 4-1 win. It was Darling’s third straight victory. Kane is now two goals shy of his season career-high 30 from the 2009-10 season.
Crawford is 4-0-2 with a 1.32 goals-against against in six games against Montreal. Chicago has won its last four games against Montreal.
Anticipated lines:
Shaw-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Desjardins-Danault-Teravainen
Panik-Rasmussen-Garbutt
Defensive pairings:
Keith-Hjalmarsson
TVR-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Rozsival
Opponent Breakdown
Canadiens | Record: 23-18-4 | 50 points | 5th in Atlantic Division
Montreal did not hold a morning skate after falling 4-3 in overtime Saturday at St. Louis.
The Canadiens are led in scoring by Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec, who has four points in as many games, including a goal and assist against the Blues. However, neither player has ever scored against Chicago.
With reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner Carey Price still out with a leg injury, Mike Condon started in net against the Hawks last Tuesday. Ben Scrivens is expected to make his third start since being traded from Edmonton for forward Zack Kassian on Dec. 28. Scrivens is 1-2-1 with a 3.19 GAA in four games against Chicago.
Anticipated Lines:
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Desharnais-Weise
Fleischmann-Eller-Byron
De La Rose-Mitchell-Flynn
Defensive Pairings:
Markov-Subban
Emelin-Petry
Beaulieu-Barberio
Injuries
Blackhawks: Marcus Kruger
Canadiens: Carey Price, Tom Gilbert
How to watch
When: 6 p.m. CT
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: WGN