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Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks
United Center, Chicago
7:30PM Central/5:30PM Pacific
PRIME/CSN Chicago/WGN Radio


Yesterday, I noticed a measurable swell in Hawk Hysteria on social media, as well as a lot of mention of Patrick Kane as a Hart Trophy candidate. Hey, I said here at this time yesterday morning, that if Kane continues his current pace and plays defense as well, he has to be a strong, strong contender.

All that said, we are only at the quarter pole of the season. Much can, and will, change. The Hawks are playing hockey right now, as though they have 6 skaters and the other team has 5. And as much as Hawk fans would like to see that continue all the way to the Stanley Cup, in a likelihood, there will be some bumps in the road—if not roadbloacks.

Once a game goes in the victory column, the circumstances fade quickly and it only adds to your legend—even if it was close (St. Louis, Dallas), your goalie stole a game (Calgary), or you were just plain lucky to win (Columbus).

The truth is, you're never as good as you think when you're hot, nor as bad when you're not. And that the Hawks still have trouble with bigger, more physical teams, especially those who can also skate and/or clog up the neutral zone.

Enter the Anaheim Ducks, a bigger, physical team with a lot of skill on its top two lines and a very good-looking goaltender in Swedish Viktor Fasth. I haven't seen the Ducks play this year but the numbers tell a compelling story. This is a very good team. And the Hawks should have their hands full.


PROJECTED LINEUPS


ANAHEIM

MATT BELESKEY RYAN GETZLAF COREY PERRY
BOBBY RYAN SAKU KOIVU TEEMU SELANNE
DANIEL WINNIK ANDREW COGLIANO NICK BONINO
EMERSON ETEM KYLE PALMIERI BRAD STAUBITZ

LUCA SBISA TONI LYDMAN
FRANCOIS BEAUCHEMIN SHELDON SOURAY
BEN LOVEJOY BRYAN ALLEN

VIKTOR FASTH



CHICAGO

BRANDON SAAD JONATHAN TOEWS MARIAN HOSSA
PATRICK SHARP DAVE BOLLAND PATRICK KANE
BRYAN BICKELL ANDREW SHAW VIKTOR STALBERG
MARCUS KRUGER JAMAL MAYERS MICHAL FROLIK

BRENT SEABROOK DUNCAN KEITH
NIKLAS HJALMARSSON JOHNNY ODUYA
MICHAL ROZSIVAL NICK LEDDY

COREY CRAWFORD



STATS


GOAL DIFFERENTIAL
Anaheim, 4th
Chicago, 1st


POWER PLAY
Anaheim, 7th
Chicago, 16th


PENALTY KILL
Anaheim, 29th
Chicago, 1st


FACEOFF %
Anaheim, 21st
Chicago, 15th


BLOCKED SHOTS
Anaheim, 9th
Chicago, 10th


TAKEAWAYS
Anaheim, 4th
Chicago, 1st


All for now,



JJ

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