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Chicago Blackhawks (32-10-12) at Calgary Flames (18-27-7) 8:30PM Central TV: TSN, CSN-CH
THE BUZZ
If there's a team the Hawks needed to start this long road trip against, it could be the Calgary Flames. While the Hawks have pretty much stunk over their last ten games (3-3-4), Calgary's actually been worse (3-6-1).
The Hawks need a win tonight for a couple of reasons. First, to set the right tone for the road trip. And second, in order to regain their footing and overall confidence.
The Hawks are 5th in the league on the power play and the Flames, 25th. On the penalty kill, Chicago is a season high 27th (yay!) and Calgary is 20th.
The Hawks need more production form their 3rd line of Kris Versteeg, Michal Handzus and Bryan Bickell. By comparison, the fourth line of Brandon Bollig, Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith, scores about as often and is much better in terms of +/-. it appears Andrew Shaw will move back to third line center tonight and recently recalled Brandon Pirri will get a hot on the second line.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Chicago
Sharp Toews Hossa Versteeg Pirri Kane Bickell Shaw Saad Bollig Kruger Smith
Keith Seabrook Oduya Hjalmarsson Leddy Brookbank
Raanta
Calgary
Hudler Backlund Stempniak Galiardi Monahan Colborne Bouma Stajan Jones Westgarth Street McGrattan
Brodie Giordano Russell Butler Smid Wideman
Berra
All for now, more tomorrow,
JJ