New York Islanders (43-24-4) at Chicago Blackhawks (41-21-6) 8:30PM Eastern/7:30 Central CSN Chicago/MS+2
THE BUZZ
The Blackhawks have been playing better game by game, most recently with a third period scoring explosion against the Sharks on Sunday. Corey Crawford has been outstanding as the Hawks have gone to a more stingy, defensive overall style of play.
But the Islanders, who beat Chicago 3-2 on December 13, pose perhaps the toughest test the Hawks have faced in recent memory.
Kris Versteeg looked to be a scratch tonight—which was, in and of itself, kind of a headscratcher—but he is in the lineup tonight.
Jaroslav Halak and Nick Leddy are out due to injury for the Isle.
THE LINEUPS (PROJECTED)
Islanders
Bailey Tavares Okposo Kulemin Nielsen Kennedy Lee Nelson Strome Martin Cizikas Clutterbuck
deHaan Hamonic Hickey Boychuk Strait Donovan
Neuvirth
Chicago
Sharp Toews Hossa Saad Vermette Teravainen Bickell Richards Versteeg Desjardins Kruger Shaw
Timonen Seabrook Keith Rozsival Oduya Hjalmarsson
Crawford
Back tomorrow,
JJ
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