Corey Crawford will get the start and Daniel Carcillo will likely be in the lineup again when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.
The Jets seek their third victory in Chicago this season and fourth straight overall. The Blackhawks were outscored 6-1 in their two losses to the Jets earlier this season. Winnipeg (24-14-8) trails the Blackhawks (28-13-4) and St. Louis- who are tied for second – by four points in the Central Division.
Chicago is 3-3-0 so far in 2015 and have yet to win consecutive games. The Blackhawks last strung together two wins over Colorado (Dec. 27) and Nashville (Dec. 29).
The well-rested Blackhawks have been idle since they began a four-game home stand with a 4-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday. Marian Hossa, Bryan Bickell and Brad Richards each scored a goal and an assist to improve to 15-5-1 at the United Center. Johnny Oduya also lit the lamp for Chicago.
During Wednesday’s scrimmage, coach Joel Quenneville mixed up the Blackhawks power-play units. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook were on the top power-play unit with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp – while David Rundblad was part of the second unit.
The Blackhawks captain has five assists over his last three and plays some of his best hockey against his hometown team. In 11 career match ups, he has scored five goals and contributed seven assists. He’s on a nine-game scoreless skid and his due for a goal.
Chicago is still waiting for their top prospect Teuvo Teravainen to record his first NHL point. It will be the 20-year-old Finnish forwards fifth outings since being recalled from the American Hockey League this year. He will start on the third line along side Sharp and center Andrew Shaw.
Crawford will be in net after making 36 saves against the Wild. He’s started each of the last three losses to Winnipeg while posting a 2.69 goals-against average. The All-Star goaltender holds a 3-3-0 record with a 2.11 GAA in six career outings against the Jets.
Opponent Breakdown: Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg will aim for its first three-game winning streak sine early November.
After a 8-2 rout of the visiting Florida Panthers on Tuesday, the Jets picked up a 2-1 win in Dallas. It was a goalie win for Ondrej Pavelec, who was spectacular in net as he stopped 46 shots from the Stars. Trevor Daley scored with 76 seconds left in regulation to spoil the shutout.
Evander Kane scored a short-handed goal and Michael Frolik also found the back of the net for the Jets, who were outshot 38-11 by Dallas in the final 40 minutes. Sounds a lot like the Blackhawks performance in Minnesota not to long ago.
Mathieu Perreault is having a career week. He had an assist against Anaheim then scored a franchise record four goals against the Panthers. The 27-year-old added another assist on Frolik’s opening goal against Dallas to extend his point streak to five games.
Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Frolik have all performed well against their former team this season. Frolik scored only 20 seconds into the game in Winnipeg’s 1-0 victory Nov. 2 in Chicago. Byfuglien and Ladd, combined for three assists in the 5-1 win Dec. 23. Ladd has two goals and four assists on a four-game point streak against the Blackhawks.
Michael Hutchinson recorded his only career shutout with 33 saves in the first meeting with Chicago. He is expected to started, and holds a 2-0 record with a .50 GAA against the Blackhawks.
Injury Report
Chicago: Kris Versteeg (hand) and Trevor vanRiemsdyk (knee)
Winnipeg: Grant Clitsome (upper-body) and Jacob Trouba (upper-body)
Game Information
When: 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: United Center
TV: CSN
Radio: WGN-720
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