The Chicago Blackhawks are not the Detroit Red Wings, but they are just as impressive. The Red Wings have now qualified for the NHL playoffs an unprecedented 24 seasons in a row. The Blackhawks invade Buffalo looking to maintain their winning ways.
The Hawks’ secret to success is that they are hitting on all cylinders right now. They are getting maximum return right now from their goaltending, much improved team defense, and balanced lines and more scoring.
It would appear that the Sabres are in for a track meet on Friday night.
On Thursday night the Blackhawks qualified for a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season in a row by downing the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Thursday night.
The Blackhawks invade Buffalo looking to maintain their winning ways.
Marcus Kruger had a goal and an assist and Corey Crawford stopped 34 of 35 shots he faced as the Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks. The Blackhawks have won three in a row and hit 100 points for the season. The Hawks are currently seeded in third place in the Central Division, one point behind second-place St. Louis, which beat Calgary and three behind first-place Nashville, which was idle.
The Sabres will have to keep a watchful eye on Chicago’s fourth line of Marcus Kruger, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Desjardins, who have found instant chemistry since head coach Joel Quennville first played them together a few games ago. On Thursday night, Teravainen scored his fourth goal of the season early in the game and Desjardins got a secondary assist on it. Jonathan Toews scored the game winning goal in the third period against Vancouver to guarantee their playoff position.
Look for Joel Quennville to send Scott Darling to the crease in Buffalo.
Thanks, CSN Chicago
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Never rule out Pat Kane. He’s been proving people wrong his whole sporting life. When critics said he was too small, he raised his game to gargantuan proportions. When his junior hockey success wouldn’t translate to the NHL, he thumbed his nose at the haters and proved them wrong. Kane is such a competitor that he wants to make people eat their own words. Including, his surgeon and the Blackhawks’ management team.
It wasn’t an April Fool’s Day prank nor an internet hoax when news broke earlier this week that Kane practiced in full gear with his squadron on Wednesday morning.
Kane underwent surgery to repair his fractured left clavicle five weeks ago. Kane looked right at home on Wednesday toe-dragging, sniping, rolling his wrists, skating and shooting. Joel Quenneville liked what he saw.
“He’s skating well. He’s doing what he can do. But there’s still a process that has to be followed there,… Quenneville said. “He’s a ways away.… Kaner agreed.
“It’s nice to be out there with the team today and skate with them and hopefully sooner rather than later I can do different things like contact and stuff like that,… Kane said. “But I still think the timetable is the same and I’ll just take it day by day and see what we can make of it.…
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The Arizona Coyotes are breathing down the necks of the Buffalo Sabres right now. A week ago, the Sabres held a 6 points lead on the Desert Dogs in the McEichel standings. Today, Buffalo's "lead" is only two points.
Coyotes goalie Mike Smith cannot be blamed for his team's failures this season. He isn't a top four D-man nor is he a scoring forward.
Smith's 13-39 record (5 OT losses) is misleading because his team's pop-gun offensive has been downright dreadful for the past two months. Seemingly, the Yotes started lighting the goal lamp round about the time that they down shifted their tanking strategy. Smith has kept his team is close games for long enough stretches in games to create a competitive contest. The Dogs have failed ad nauseum not because of Smith's goaltending but because of the fatal combination of his team's Swiss cheese defense and its woefully pathetic offense.
Smith is the owner of a 3.14 GAA and .904 save percentage which is a far cry from the average of 4.35 goals per game that he was allowing in December. In January, Smith reduced that number to 3.5 goals allowed per game and lowered again to 2.94 in February. In March, Smith reduced his goals per game allowed to 2.42 per game.
"This is certainly the Mike Smith we know and know how good he can be," Coyotes GM Don Maloney told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday morning. "What I'm excited about is the consistency of his performance is back, where he's continually being bombarded with shots and yet keeps us in games."
That being said, Coyotes head coach Dave Tippet said Thursday that Smith's back up Louie Domingue will start one or both of the home and home games against the San Jose Sharks this weekend. The Dogs fly to NoCal for Friday's game and then jet back to Glendale to host the Sharks on Saturday night.
The Dogs are not looking to earn any more points on the McEichel standings. They want to keep the Sabres within striking distance. Buffalo hosts Chicago on Friday night then plays on Long Island on Saturday night. Ted Nolan will likely start Anders Likdback Friday night and then spell him with either Matt Hackett (injured) or Andrey Makarov against the Islanders.
This tank battle will likely be decided on the final night of the season on April 11.