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Washington Capitals@Chicago Blackhawks
8PM Eastern/7PM Central
United Center, Chicago
NBCSN/WGN Radio
PROJECTED LINEUPS
WASHINGTON
Johansson-Backstrom-Ovechkin
Laich-Grabovski-Brouwer
Chimera-Fehr-Ward
Erat-Latta-Wilson
Alzner-Green
Erskine-Carlson
Hillen-Carrick
Holtby
CHICAGO
Bickell-Toews-Kane
Sharp-Handzus-Hossa
Saad-Shaw-Smith
Bollig-Kruger-Nordstrom
Seabrook-Keith
Hjalmarsson-Oduya
Rozsival-Leddy
Crawford
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Hawks raise their second Stanley Cup banner in four years to the rafters tonight, so I would expect a packed UC to be rocking and the hometown boys to have a lot of jump to start the game.
That said, question abound for the Hawks, not all of which can or will be answered tonight.
How does a newly minted Corey Crawford start the season, now firmly established as the Hawks' #1, and with the expectations of a $6 million yearly salary?
Is Marian Hossa 100% after the back injury he sustained in the playoffs last year?
Can Swedish rookie Joakim Nordstrom replace Michal Frolik on the fourth line and what was the league's best penalty kill last year?
Is this the year Nick Leddy finally, really arrives?
Meanwhile the Caps have added enigmatic Belarussian center Mikhail Grabovski and late last-season acquisition Marty Erat. Grabovski is expected to be the guy to get Troy Brouwer the puck more and amp the former Hawk winger's goal numbers.
Should be a good one!
All for now,
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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