Blackhawks vs. Lightning preview 2017: Hawks look for fourth straight victory
The Blackhawks look to capitalize on a struggling Lightning team Tuesday night to earn their fourth straight win.
The Chicago Blackhawks look for their fourth straight win Tuesday night as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center.
The Hawks are coming off of a 4-2 win which saw Jonathan Toews play some of his best hockey of the season. His one goal and three assists against the Vancouver Canucks Sunday night gave the captain his first multi-point game of 2017, and his fifth multi-point game this season.
The Blackhawks 30-14-5 record ties them with the Minnesota Wild at the top of the Western Conference for 65 points. However, Chicago has three games at-hand over the Wild.
Tampa Bay are just 21-22-5 this season, obviously feeling the absence of captain Steven Stamkos. They sit in last in the Atlantic Division, tied for points with the Buffalo Sabres with 47. The Lightning have dropped their last three straight games, and have won just two of their 10 games so far in 2017.
Tuesday night will be the first meeting of this season between the two teams. The Blackhawks and Lightning last met just over a year ago in Tampa, where the Blackhawks fell 2-1.
The starting netminders have yet to be named for both the Blackhawks and Lightning, however Corey Crawford and Ben Bishop are likely to start for their respective teams.
Crawford recorded his 200th career win Sunday night, moving him into fourth in the Blackhawks franchise history for most goaltender wins. A win over the Lightning Tuesday night will tie him on the list with Ed Belfour for 201 career wins. Crawford now has a 18-10-3 record on the season, with a 2.52 goals-against average, and .919 save percentage.
Bishop has just 11 regulation wins this season for a 11-11-3 record, with a 2.78 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.
For more on the Lightning, visit Raw Charge.
Lineups
Blackhawks
Forwards
Hartman-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Hinostroza-Kero-Hossa
Rasmussen-Schmaltz-Tootoo
Defensemen
Keith-Hjalmarsson
Kempny-Seabrook
van Riemsdyk-Rozsival
Goalie
Crawford
Lightning
Forwards
Palat-Namestnikov-Kucherov
Killorn-Johnson-Vermin
Boyle-Filppula-Drouin
Bournival-Paquette-Dumont
Defensemen
Hedman-Stralman
Garrison-Sustr
Coburn-Nesterov
Goalie
Bishop
*Lines will be updated if necessary
How to watch: Lightning at Blackhawks
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: CSN Chicago