The Chicago Blackhawks will play four games this week to wrap up its final annual Circus Trip. The Hawks close out the Canadian portion of the trip Monday with a visit to Edmonton before playing three games in four nights for the California portion of the trip. Chicago visits reigning Western Conference champion San Jose on Wednesday before having Thanksgiving off then they have a back-to-back in Anaheim and Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Let’s take a look at the upcoming week in Blackhawks’ hockey (all times Central):
Monday – Blackhawks at Oilers, 8 p.m. (CSN-CH)
The Hawks ride a two-game win streak into Edmonton after sweeping a back-to-back against Calgary and Vancouver. Chicago swept the three-game series last season, scoring four goals in each contest behind Corey Crawford in net. Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin dominated the Oilers as each scored two goals and two assists in the first meeting. Kane tallied two goals and five assists in the series while Panarin had four goals and four assists.
IceHogs: Idle
Central Division: COL at CBJ, TB at NSH, MIN at DAL
Around the NHL: CGY at BUF, NYR at PITT, NJ at SJ
Tuesday – Off Day
There are five games on the schedule for Tuesday, highlighted by the Blues visiting the Bruins on NBCSN.
IceHogs: Idle
Central Division: STL at BOS
Around the NHL: CAR at TOR, OTT at MTL, PHI at FLA, NYI at ANA
Wednesday – Blackhawks at Sharks, 9 p.m. (NBCSN)
The Hawks went 2-1 last season against the Sharks. Chicago’s lone loss in the series was a 2-0 shutout when Martin Jones made 33 saves at the United Center. Kane and Duncan Keith each recorded a goal and assists while Jonathan Toews had two goals, including an overtime winner, last season against San Jose. Patrick Marleau paced the Sharks with two goals and an assist and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (three assists) and Joe Thornton (goal and two assists) also logged three points.
IceHogs: Rockford hosts Cleveland (Blue Jackets), 7 p.m.
Central Division: STL at WSH, DAL at NSH, EDM at COL
Around the NHL: DET at BUF, TOR at NJ, PITT at NYR, CGY at CBJ, PHI at TB
Thursday – Off day
The NHL knows the NFL owns Thanksgiving Day, so it has slated two games for primetime. Carolina travels Montreal for a game televised on NHL Network in the U.S. while Ottawa hosts Boston.
IceHogs: Idle
Central Division: Idle
Friday – Blackhawks at Ducks, 3 p.m. (CSN-CH, NHLN-US)
Chicago and Anaheim needed more than 60 minutes in all three games last season. Jonathan Toews and Artem Anisimov scored the game-winners for Chicago while Ryan Getzlaf tallied Anaheim’s. Brent Seabrook was huge in the series with two goals and four assists. Keith had a goal and two assists and Kane had three helpers.
IceHogs: Rockford hosts Milwaukee (Predators), 7 p.m.
Central Division: PHI at MIN, WPG at NSH, VAN at DAL
Around the NHL: NYR at PHI, NYI at SJ, BUF at WSH, CGY at BOS, CBJ at TB, DET at NJ, EDM at ARI
Saturday – Blackhawks at Kings, 9:30 p.m. (WGN)
The Hawks put a bow on the Circus Trip with a trip to Staples Center. Chicago was 1-1-1 against the Kings last season with Crawford allowing nine goals, including five in one game, to the Kings. Scott Darling allowed three in a 3-2 overtime loss on the 2015 Circus Trip. Kane had two goals and an assist, but the Kings held Panarin to just an assist. Anisimov and Toews each had a goal and an assist. The Kings were led by Anze Kopitar, who tallied a goal and three assists, and Marian Gaborik with two goals, including the overtime game-winner against Darling. Gaborik broke his right foot during the World Cup of Hockey in August and is current on injured reserve.
IceHogs: Rockford visits Chicago (Blues), 7 p.m.
Central Division: MIN at STL, VAN at COL
Around the NHL: WSH at TOR, CAR at OTT, MTL at DET, CBJ at FLA, NJ at PITT, ANA at SJ
Sunday – Off day
The NHL closes out the week with a six-game slated featuring the Senators visiting former teammate Mika Zibanejad and the Rangers on NHL Network. Before that game, the Lightning visit Boston and the Oilers host the Coyotes for a pair of entertaining games.
IceHogs: Idle
Central Division: NSH at WPG
Around the NHL: TB at BOS, ARI at EDM, FLA at CAR, OTT at NYR, CGY at PHI