There’s a Blackhawks game on Saturday night over in California, with Chicago wrapping up this three-game trip out west by facing the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center.
It’s a matchup of two bad teams with inept rosters playing out the stretch of a season that was probably over before it even started, the kind of game that appeals little to anyone with just a passing interest in the game. But if you’re reading this preview, chances are you’re one of the people still following along with this team despite all of the misery it’s exacted upon your sports soul this winter, still tuning in with the hope that odds will be defied and the Blackhawks will deliver a game that won’t leave those watching for 2.5 hours with the thought of, “What the hell am I even doing here?” when it’s over. Or maybe it’s a night where you’re watching because it’s a Saturday night and the weather still kind of sucks in the Chicago area and what else am I going to do do but watch the Hawks because the Hawks are on?
Welcome in, however it is you got here.
After Thursday’s debacle against the Anaheim Ducks, coach Luke Richardson has returned to the more traditional lineup of 12 forwards and six defensemen, with some movement noted among the forward lines. By age or by contract, some quick math suggests that half of the 18 skaters in the lineup below could be around for the upcoming chapters of this Blackhawks franchise, which offers a measure of interest that other games this season have not:
As for the Sharks, Devin Cooley will start in net while Mike Hoffman is out due to a concussion.
Here was the SJ lineup from Thursday’s game against the Lightning, their most recent outing:
San Jose lost that game 4-1 to Tampa, the Sharks sixth loss in a row and 15th defeat in the last 16 games. Yeah, the Sharks have just one victory since Feb. 15. Remember how miserable it was in January and February for Chicago? That’s where San Jose is now. The stretch includes a 5-2 loss to these Blackhawks at the United Center last Sunday, although Chicago’s road struggles this season have been well-documented.
San Jose has 39 points in a nice 69 games entering this one, with Chicago barely ahead at 43 in 70. A San Jose win closes that gap and raises the possibility of top draft lottery odds being given to Chicago. A Chicago win would seemingly lock the Blackhawks in to 31st place in the league standings, with Anaheim eight points up in 30th as of this writing. Either outcome has its merits, although the latter has the potential bonus of some Chicago youth doing something to inspire more hope for the future … so guess which way this writer is leaning?
Let’s go Hawks.
Tale of the Tape
Blackhawks — Statistic — Sharks
44.71% (31st) — 5-on-5 Corsi For — 44.22% (32nd)
43.05% (31st) — 5-on-5 Expected goals for — 42.89% (32nd)
2.16 (32nd) — Goals per game — 2.17 (31st)
3.59 (t-28th) — Goals against per game — 3.99 (32nd)
46.7% (29th) — Faceoffs — 48.6% (22nd)
16.0% (28th) — Power play — 20.1% (t-19th)
77.4% (21st) — Penalty kill — 74.3% (28th)
How to watch
When: 9:30 p.m. CT
Where: SAP Center, San Jose
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Webstream: NBC Sports App
Radio: WGN 720