The Chicago Blackhawks host the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night as they look for their fifth straight victory. The Hawks have been rolling hot lately, having just one loss in their last 10 games.
The Penguins are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars Tuesday night, which ended their 25 game win streak when holding a lead heading into the third period. Pittsburgh currently sits in third on the Metropolitan Division with 38-15-8 record, with a total of 84 points.
Chicago’s 39-18-5 record is good for second in the Central Division, sitting five points behind the division-leading Minnesota Wild.
With the exciting announcement of Johnny Oduya returning to Chicago, it has been announced that he will not be in the Hawks lineup Wednesday night. With Niklas Hjalmarsson still on the sidelines due to an upper-body injury, Oduya will not be reunited with his old D-partner just yet, but coach Q is expecting the pair to play together.
Q says he does project Oduya to be paired with Hjalmarsson once he returns to the lineup. Which could mean Keith-Seabrook reunion too.
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 1, 2017
Corey Crawford will not return to the lineup Wednesday night due to illness, giving Scott Darling his second straight start for the Hawks. In his 25 games so far this season, Darling has recorded a 15-5-2 record with a 2.18 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.
With Matt Murray minding the crease for the Pens on Tuesday night against the Stars, Marc-Andre Fleury is likely to get the start for the Penguins Wednesday night. In his 30 games so far this season, Fleury has a 15-7-5 record, 3.16 goals-against average, and .906 save percentage.
For more on the Penguins, visit Pensburgh.
Lineups
Blackhawks
Forwards
Schmaltz-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Jurco-Kruger-Hossa
Hartman-Kero-Desjardins
Defensemen
Keith-van Riemsdyk
Kempny-Seabrook
Campbell-Rozsival
Goalie
Darling
Penguins
Forwards
Kunitz-Crosby-Guentzel
Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist
Wilson-Bonino-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Cullen-Fehr
Defensemen
Dumoulin-Hainsey
Gaunce-Schultz
Cole-Ruhwedel
Goalie
Fleury
How to watch Blackhawks vs. Penguins
Time: 7 p.m. CST
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sportsnet (Canada)
Live stream: NBC Sports Live