Winnipeg Jets (13-12-2) at Chicago Blackhawks (13-9-4) 4PM Central WGN/TSN3
THE BUZZ
Lots of it and not much good for the Hawks.
Viktor Tikhonov has been waived and rumor has it he would like to return to Russia and join a KHL team. I heard this morning that will have no effect on the happiness of Artemi Panarin, who has settled in well with the Russian community in Chicago. Bryan Bickell may be returning. This is interesting. What little the Hawks have had to say indicates that Bickell has shown enough improvement in Rockford to feel that he can help a team sorely in need of another competent left wing. If Bickell fails to produce, the Hawks might have hammered the final nail in the coffin as far as Bickell's trade value by bringing him up and letting other teams see that his AHL numbers are just that. But, if Bickell plays well, it could be a huge boost for Chicago.
I also heard this morning, the team continues to explore trade scenarios for Trevor Daley.
This is a big game. The Hawks have lost three straight and need a win on home ice. And both they and the Jets are locked in a battle for playoff position. Or "a" playoff position.
From the department of conflicting reports, I heard a few weeks back that the Hawks had no interest in re-acquiring Dustin Byfuglien; I heard this morning that they might have some interest, but have not discussed any players yet with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Hard to read this one.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Winnipeg
Ladd Little Wheeler Perreault Scheifele Stafford Thorburn Burmistrov Ehlers Lowry Copp Peluso
Chiarot Byfuglien Enstrom Myers Stuart Trouba
Hellebuyck
Chicago
Teravainen-Toews-Hossa Panarin-Anisimov-Kane Desjardins-Kruger-Garbutt Mashinter-Kero-Shaw
Keith Hjalmarsson van Riemsdyk Seabrook Daley Rozsival
Crawford
I'll recap tomorrow.
JJ