The Chicago Blackhawks get another look at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, as they’ll host the Pacific Division foe on Tuesday night at the United Center after losing a 4-3 overtime game to the Flames on Saturday night.
Both teams have been idle since that game and remain on the outside of the playoff picture, chasing the Minnesota Wild and their 61 points in the final wild card spot. Calgary is still very much alive for a No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division as well, just one point behind the Los Angeles Kings. Chicago’s 56 points means it probably has lost much of hope a playoff spot that doesn’t come from the wild card.
There’s nothing new to report for Calgary’s lineup, although old friend Kris Versteeg did get on the ice for the first time Tuesday following hip surgery. His return to the ice remains well into the future, however. Everything else about the Flames is what you may remember from Saturday’s game. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are the team’s leading scorers and a very scary opponent, especially with free space in overtime. The second line, which features another former Blackhawk in Michael Frolik, was the most dominant possession grouping for Calgary on Saturday, with all three forwards posting CF percentages over 60. Mike Smith is playing well enough in net to keep the Flames very much alive in the playoff push.
For the Hawks, a loss in their last game means more line-tinkering from coach Joel Quenneville. Down to the fourth line go Brandon Saad and Ryan Hartman along with Patrick Sharp, in a combination that begs the question of whether or not this current season can get any worse for that trio of slumping Hawks. We’ll find out, won’t we? Connor Murphy is reportedly sick, so Jan Rutta steps in with Michal Kempny on that defensive pairing. And for reasons that will continue to flabbergast this writer, Jeff Glass gets another start in net for the Hawks over Anton Forsberg. Someone explain this decision to me in the comments. Please.
Chicago has seven of its next 10 games at home and there’s no time like the present to get on a good run to give us all hope that our April will be full of Blackhawks-involved playoff hockey. Because, pretty soon, there will just be no time.
Lineups
Blackhawks
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| F1 | Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Tommy Wingles |
| F2 | Lance Bouma – Nick Schmaltz – Patrick Kane |
| F3 | Patrick Sharp – Ryan Hartman – Alex DeBrincat |
| F4 | Vinnie Hinostroza – Artem Anisimov – Anthony Duclair |
| D1 | Duncan Keith – Jordan Oesterle |
| D2 | Michal Kempny – Brent Seabrook |
| D3 | Carl Dahlstrom – Jan Rutta |
| Goaltender | Anton Forsberg |
Ducks
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| F1 | Rickard Rackell – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry |
| F2 | Andrew Cogliano – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg |
| F3 | Nick Ritchie – Adam Henrique – Ondrej Kase |
| F4 | Jason Chimera – Antoine Vermette – Chris Kelly |
| D1 | Cam Fowler – Brandon Montour |
| D2 | Hampus Lindholm – Francois Beauchemin |
| D3 | Marcus Pettersson – Josh Manson |
| Goaltender | John Gibson or Ryan Miller |
*Lines are subject to change.
How to watch Flames at Blackhawks
Start time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: United Center, Chicago
TV: NBC Sports Chicago