Game Preview : Snowblind

Chicago Blackhawks (45 pts 21-0-3) @ Colorado Avalanche (20 pts 8-10-4)8 pm Pepsi Center - Denver CO,TV: CSN Chicago (NHL Network)Radio: WGN 720 AM

Season Series

Date	Score	W. Goal
Mar 18 '13
Mar 08 '13
Mar 06 '13	COL 2 at CHI 3	D. Carcillo

Tonight the Hawks look for their 12th straight victory in the back half of a home and home series with the Colorado Avalanche. The Blackhawks beat the Avs with a dramatic 3rd period goal from Dan "Gorilla Salad" Carcillo in the final minute of regulation. The Hawks will be without Patrick Sharp who is expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to a shoulder injury suffered during the 3rd period Thursday night. Both Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw are expected to play tonight. Hossa was a late scratch Thursday and Shaw never returned to the ice after taking a Paul Statsny elbow to the head late in the 2nd period. The league did nothing about Statsny elbow to Shaw's skull because they are not too serious about stopping the concussion problem that is plaguing the game. Michael Frolik was supposed to be meeting the team in Denver today, and should return to lineup tonight as well. Fro missed the last two tilts due to an illness. The Hawks recalled Brandon Bollig from Rockford yesterday. Not sure why they would call up such a waste of oxygen when playing in a city where it comes at such a premium. I can't understand why they aren't giving one of the Hogs who can actually contribute like Jeremy Morin, Ben Smith or Jimmy Hayes a shot with the big club. Bollig will be out for "revenge" so he will play is 3 minutes and then rack up 17 minutes in penalties on a pointless fight so Patrick Kane will have to double shift again. Bravo!

Corey Crawford is expected to start between the pipes for the Blackhawks tonight. Crow is 2-3-1 with a 2.63 GAA, .896 save % and one shutout in six career starts versus the Avs. Look for Semyon Varlamov to start again for the Avs, who made 29 saves at the United Center on Thursday. Colorado has lost their last three games, but have victories in a row at the Pepsi Center.

Probable Chicago Blackhawks lineup

Fowards

Brandon Saad - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa

Bryan Bickell - Dave Bolland - Patrick Kane

Daniel Carcillo - Andrew Shaw - Viktor Stalberg

Michael Frolik - Marcus Kruger - Brandon Bollig

Defensive Pairings

Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook

Johnny Oduya - Niklas Hjalmarsson

Nick Leddy - Michal Rozsival

Goaltender

Corey Crawford 11-0-3, 1.53 GAA, .940 save %, 2 SO

Injuries

Patrick Sharp (shoulder) OUT, Steve Montador (concussion) day to day

Leading Scorers