The Blackhawks open up the season series against the Red Wings in the first of a four-game homestand Sunday. The Blackhawks will head to Detroit later in the season.
Chicago (18-18-6) have won five of their last seven games. The Blackhawks played well against the Canucks, but failed to get a victory, losing 5-4. The loss cost them Robin Lehner, who is now out with a knee injury suffered in that contest. Crawford has not faced the Red Wings since the 2016-17 season, when he had .892 save percentage in two games.
Kevin Lankinen has been recalled from the Rockford Ice Hogs and Corey Crawford will start in net for the Blackhawks. Crawford has a .894 save percentage in his last five games and over that span has three starts under a .900. He hasn’t started a game since Dec. 23.
Patrick Kane has four goals in his last two games (as well as six points) and Alex DeBrincat has four points in his last four. Connor Murphy is leading the blue line in production of late and is currently on a three-game scoring streak.
Alex Nylander will be a heathy scratch for the third straight game as Dylan Sikura will continue his role on the left wing with Ryan Carpenter and Kane.
The Blackhawks have won three straight games against the Red Wings and will be looking to make it four.
Detroit (10-29-3) beat the Sharks before the new year, their first victory in seven games (they most recently loss to the Stars, however). The Red Wings have lost seven of their last ten games.
Detroit has scored the fewest goals in the NHL this season and have allowed the most against. This is a team on track for 46 points this season.
Tyler Bertuzzi leads the team in points with 31, goals with 15 and is tied for the lead in assists with 16. Dylan Larkin is having a somewhat down year with 26 points in 42 games (after scoring 73 points in 76 games last year). The Red Wings’ leading goaltender is Jonathan Bernier, and he has a .904 save percentage this season. Jimmy Howard has a .884.
Nothing is going right for the Red Wings, but the last time the Blackhawks faced a team that could be said about, it was the Devils and they beat Chicago 7-1.
Tale of the Tape
Blackhawks — Statistic — Red Wings
47.8% (25th) — Corsi For — 46.7% (29th)
45.1% (28th) — Expected goals for — 44.9% (29th)
2.88 (20th) — Goals per game — 2.14 (31st)
3.21 (22nd) — Goals against per game — 3.81 (31st)
15.7% (25th) — Power play — 15.3% (26th)
81.7% (8th) — Penalty kill — 73% (30th)
Lineups
Blackhawks
Kubalik — Toews — Quenneville
DeBrincat — Dach — Strome
Sikura — Carpenter — Kane
Smith — Kampf — Highmore
Keith — Boqvist
Gustafsson — Murphy
Maatta — Gilbert
Crawford
Lankinen
Red Wings
Bertuzzi — Larkin — Fabbri
Abdelkader — Ehn — Erne
Helm — Nielsen — Glendening
Smith — Filppula — Zadina
Hronek — Nemeth
Green — Daley
Bowey — Lashoff
Bernier
Howard
How to watch
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Live stream: NBC Sports app