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Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs preview: Hawks host struggling Leafs

The Chicago Blackhawks look to get back on track after falling short to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday night. The Hawks will look to get their third victory of the season Saturday, but will have to get through Auston Matthews and company to do so.

The Hawks will enter Saturday’s game without Trevor van Riemsdyk, who suffered a right arm injury Friday night. TvR is expected to miss five to six weeks with an upper-body injury, according to a report from Scott Powers of The Athletic. He was seen wearing a sling Saturday morning by reporters.

As for Marian Hossa, he missed Friday night’s game against the Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury, but it is still questionable whether or not he will take to the ice against the Maple Leafs.

Chicago’s penalty kill continues to be nothing shy of atrocious, as they gave up two more power play goals in Columbus. This increases the Hawks total to nine power play goals allowed in five games, to put them in last place in the penalty kill rankings, with a percentage of 47.1.

The Maple Leafs haven’t started so hot this season either, as they’ve struggled to execute a win. The Leafs are just 1-1-2 on the season, despite the potential Matthews showed in his four-goal NHL debut. They may still be having growing pains, but with the additions of Matthews and Mitch Marner to their young roster this season, the Leafs show potential for years to come. The two 19-year olds will look to lead their team to their first road win this season at the UC on Saturday.

For more on the Maple Leafs, check out Pension Plan Puppets.

Lineups

Forwards
Tyler Motte – Jonathan Toews – Richard Panik
Artemi Panarin – Artem Anisimov – Patrick Kane
Brian Campbell – Nick Schmaltz – Ryan Hartman
Dennis Rasmussen – Marcus Kruger – Jordin Tootoo

Defensemen
Duncan Keith – Niklas Hjalmarsson
Michal Kempny – Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling – Michal Rozsival

Goalie
Corey Crawford

Maple Leafs

Forwards
William Nylander – Auston Matthews – Zach Hyman
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Mitchell Marner
Milan Michalek – Nazem Kadri – Leo Komarov
Matt Martin – Peter Holland – Connor Brown

Defensemen
Morgan Rielly – Martin Marincin
Jake Gardiner – Connor Carrick
Matt Hunwick – Nikita Zaitsev

Goalie
Frederik Andersen

*Lineups will be updated if necessary

How to watch Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs

Location: United Center

Time: 6 p.m. CT

TV: WGN, CBC (Canada)

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