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Chicago Blackhawks @ Minnesota Wild
7PM Central
XCel Energy Center
TSN2, NBCSN, CSN-CH/WGN Radio


THE BUZZ

Is there a goalie controversy in Chicago? Unless Corey Crawford is nursing a well-concealed injury, there appears to be one.

Really, going back to last season, there have been periods where the team appears to play better in front of Ray Emery. On that note, some of the more “indoctrinated” in the Hawk fanbase also likely overlook something that Joel Quenneville likely doesn’t: Emery has been to the Stanley Cup Finals as a #1 goalie. Does this mean Emery has #1 locked up from here on out? Hardly. Does it mean—in spite of any statements to the contrary— the #1 job is up for grabs right now? Could be.

Patrick Sharp has traveled with the team to Minneapolis and might play tonight. Suddenly, the Hawk forward corps is looking deep and dangerous again, with the addition of C Michal Handzus—and his early strong play—giving Quenneville numerous line-making options.

The Wild are 6-4 over their last 10, and appear to be trending upward.


PROJECTED LINEUPS


CHICAGO

BRANDON SAAD JONATHAN TOEWS MARIAN HOSSA
PATRICK SHARP MARCUS KRUGER PATRICK KANE
BRYAN BICKELL MICHAL HANDZUS VIKTOR STALBERG
BRANDON BOLLIG ANDREW SHAW MICHAEL FROLIK


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


RAY EMERY



MINNESOTA

ZACH PARISE MIKKO KOIVU JASON POMINVILLE
CAL CLUTTERBUCK KYLE BRODZIAK CHARLIE COYLE
DEVIN SETOGUCHI MIKAEL GRANLUND PIERREMARC BOUCHARD
ZENON KONOPKA TORREY MITCHELL MIKE RUPP

RYAN SUTER JONAS BRODIN
NATE PROSSER JUSTIN FALK
CLAYTON STONER JARED SPURGEON

NIKLAS BACKSTROM



All for now,


JJ

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