The Chicago Blackhawks look to start the 2016 calendar year with their third straight win when they host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night at United Center.
The Hawks (22-13-4) fell 4-0 to Central Division foe Dallas on Dec. 22, and returned from the Christmas break with a 2-1 home loss to Carolina, with Brent Seabrook scoring with three seconds left to avoid a second straight shutout.
Since then Chicago has turned the corner with back-to-back road victories, beating Arizona 7-5 on Tuesday and Colorado, 4-3 in overtime, on Thursday, with captain Jonathan Toews scoring his fourth overtime tally this season. Corey Crawford allowed all five goals against Arizona, while backup Scott Darling made a rare start in Denver.
The Hawks fell to the Senators, 4-3 in overtime, in their first meeting Dec. 3 in Ottawa. Mike Hoffman scored the game-winner and added an assist, while reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson had three assists. Chicago has won six straight meetings at home against the Senators.
Crawford made 23 saves in the first matchup, and is 2-0-1 against the Senators.
Patrick Kane will be honored for his 26-game point streak from Oct. 17 to Dec. 13 with a pre-game ceremony.
Lines:
Shaw-Toews-Hossa
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Desjardins-Danault-Teravainen
Bickell-Rasmussen-Garbutt
Defensive pairings:
Keith-Hjalmarsson
TVR-Seabrook
Scuderi-Gustafsson
Opponent Breakdown
Ottawa Senators | Record: 18-14-6 | 5th in Atlantic Division | Goal Differential -4
The Senators stumble into the matchup having dropped four of five games. Ottawa is three days removed from a 3-0 loss at New Jersey, and is expected to roll out the same lineup with Cody Ceci and Milan Michalek still injured.
Karlsson had his seven-game point streak snapped in the loss to New Jersey. He is just one point behind Kane for the NHL assist lead, and he sits fourth in total points.
Craig Anderson will start in net for the Senators. He stopped 77 of 79 shots in his last two starts, and made 35 saves in the first meeting against the Hawks.
Lines:
Smith-Turris-Stone
Hoffman-Zibanejad-Ryan
McCormick-Pageau-Chiasson
Prince-Lazar-Neil
Defensive Pairings:
Claesson-Karlsson
Wiercioch-Borowiecki
Methot-Wideman
Injuries
Blackhawks: Marcus Kruger
Senators: Cody Ceci, Milan Michalek, Clarke MacArthur, Chris Phillips
How to watch
When: 7 p.m. CT
Where: United Center
TV: CSN