Los Angeles Kings (7-3-0) at Chicago Blackhawks (6-5-0) 7:30 Central/5:30 Pacific NHL Network/SportsNet Canada/FS-W/CSN-CH
THE BUZZ
As has often been the case the last handful of seasons, one of either the Kings or Blackhawks looks poised for a deep run in the Western Conference. Sometimes, like in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, it was both teams, with one eventually taking the Cup home.
This year, the Kings look fresh and ready while the Hawks are struggling through injury and roster turnover. It’s early, but this is the kind of game on home ice that should be a pretty good metric for how well this Hawk club rises up to a big challenge while dealing with adversity.
No word on Marian Hossa (lower body) for tonight’s game. Ryan Garbutt has been skating in his spot on Jonathan Toews’ line.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Los Angeles
Lucic Carter Toffoli Pearson Kopitar Brown Gaborik Shore Lewis Clifford Andreoff Nolan
McNabb Doughty Muzzin Martinez McBain Ehrhoff
Quick
Chicago
Panarin Toews Garbutt Teravainen Anisimov Kane Bickell Kero Hartman Desjardins Krüger Shaw
Svedberg Seabrook Hjalmarsson van Riemsdyk Daley Rundblad
Crawford
I’ll recap tomorrow.
JJ