Five Things to Watch: for Chicago
1. One last crack.
In four meetings this season, the Jets have taken eight of eight points from the Blackhawks, with three of those wins coming at the United Center. In those games, the Blackhawks have been outscored 14-5, their most recent a 5-3 loss in which they squandered a third-period lead by allowing three unanswered goals. Chicago will gets its final stab at Winnipeg tonight, and look to avoid the season sweep.
2. Can new top line sustain success?
The first line of Nick Schmaltz, Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik was terrific in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. The trio combined for three goals and three assists, with Toews potting the game winner. The Blackhawks captain now has five goals and seven assists in his last eight games, matching his point total in his previous 26 contests. Getting contributions from this line is key. Let's see if it continues, and how long it lasts.
3. Is Corey Crawford back?
Before undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Dec. 3, Crawford was among the league's best goaltenders in many statistical categories. Since his return on Dec. 23, he hasn't been that great, owning a 9-7-1 record in 17 starts and finishing with an .894 save percentage in December. He turned in arguably his best performance since returning by stopping 35 of 38 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota, stealing not only one point for the Blackhawks, but two while preventing the Wild to get an extra one. It would've been a four-point swing with a regulation loss to a team that leads the Central Division by five points and has two games in hand.
4. Blackhawks power play heating up.
After going 1-for-20 (5 percent) on the power play in their previous eight games, the Blackhawks have scored at least one goal on the man advantage in their last three games, all of which have resulted in wins. They're 4-for-8 during that span, good for a 50 percent success rate. Their season total has improved to 18.9, which ranks 16th in the league.
5. So is Winnipeg's.
Like Chicago, the Jets have been cashing in on their power play chances as of late. They've scored a goal on the man advantage in four of their last five games, and it's helped them win three straight games for the first time all season. Winnipeg is 4-for-13 (30.8 percent) during that span, bumping their overall percentage to 18.6, a notch below the Blackhawks for 17th.
1. One last crack.
In four meetings this season, the Jets have taken eight of eight points from the Blackhawks, with three of those wins coming at the United Center. In those games, the Blackhawks have been outscored 14-5, their most recent a 5-3 loss in which they squandered a third-period lead by allowing three unanswered goals. Chicago will gets its final stab at Winnipeg tonight, and look to avoid the season sweep.
2. Can new top line sustain success?
The first line of Nick Schmaltz, Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik was terrific in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. The trio combined for three goals and three assists, with Toews potting the game winner. The Blackhawks captain now has five goals and seven assists in his last eight games, matching his point total in his previous 26 contests. Getting contributions from this line is key. Let's see if it continues, and how long it lasts.
3. Is Corey Crawford back?
Before undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Dec. 3, Crawford was among the league's best goaltenders in many statistical categories. Since his return on Dec. 23, he hasn't been that great, owning a 9-7-1 record in 17 starts and finishing with an .894 save percentage in December. He turned in arguably his best performance since returning by stopping 35 of 38 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota, stealing not only one point for the Blackhawks, but two while preventing the Wild to get an extra one. It would've been a four-point swing with a regulation loss to a team that leads the Central Division by five points and has two games in hand.
4. Blackhawks power play heating up.
After going 1-for-20 (5 percent) on the power play in their previous eight games, the Blackhawks have scored at least one goal on the man advantage in their last three games, all of which have resulted in wins. They're 4-for-8 during that span, good for a 50 percent success rate. Their season total has improved to 18.9, which ranks 16th in the league.
5. So is Winnipeg's.
Like Chicago, the Jets have been cashing in on their power play chances as of late. They've scored a goal on the man advantage in four of their last five games, and it's helped them win three straight games for the first time all season. Winnipeg is 4-for-13 (30.8 percent) during that span, bumping their overall percentage to 18.6, a notch below the Blackhawks for 17th.
