Chicago Blackhawks (0-0-0) vs Washington Capitals (0-0-0)
7pm CDT United Center – Chicago, IL
TV: NBCSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM
3.4 million-The annual raise Bryan Bickell got in the offseason. Let’s hope he lives up to the deal.
5428-The number miles Alexander Ovechkin traveled from Athens, Greece to Chicago for tonight’s game.
87-The number of games played between these two franchises. The Blackhawks have a 40-34-11-2 all time record versus Washington.
62- Total points Capitals coach Adam Oates scored against the Blackhawks, in 60 games, during his playing career (11 G, 51 A)
26.8-The Capitals power play conversion during the 2013 season.
24-The number of goals scored by Ovechkin in the last 23 regular season games last year. He scored only one in the playoffs.
5-The number of Stanley Cup banners that will hang from the United Center rafters after tonight.
3-The number of defending Stanley Cup Champions to win on their banner raising night in the last ten seasons. (Penguins in 09, Ducks in 07 and Avalanche in 01).
2.39- Career goals against average for Braden Holtby in 57 career games.
0-The number of preseason games Brooks Laich, Marian Hossa and Michal Handzus played in. All three are expected to play tonight.
Probable Blackhawks Lineup
Forwards
Bryan Bickell – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp – Michal Handzus – Marian Hossa
Brandon Saad – Andrew Shaw –Jimmy Hayes
Brandon Bollig – Marcus Kruger – Joakim Nordstrom
Defensive Pairings
Duncan Keith –Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya –Niklas Hjalmarsson
Nick Leddy – Michal Rozsival
Goaltender
Injuries
None
Probable Capitals Lineup
Forwards
Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Alex Ovechkin
Brooks Laich – Mikhail Grabovski – Troy Brouwer
Jason Chimera – Eric Fehr – Joel Ward
Martin Erat – Michael Latta – Tom Wilson
Defensive Pairings
Karl Alzner – Mike Green
John Erskine – John Carlson
Jack Hillen – Connor Carrick
Goaltender
Braden Holtby
Injuries
None