Blackhawks Game #49: This Should Be Interesting

The Chicago Blackhawks (14-32-2) will have a matchup with the Edmonton Oilers (27-15-1). Puck drop is 9:00pm in Edmonton.

Previously on Blackhawks Hockey:

The Blackhawks were a Ryan Donato breakaway goal away from cutting the deficit to 4-3. But the save was made, Seattle went the other way and a stretch pass to a breaking Tomas Tatar is converted, restoring a three-goal lead for the Kraken who would go onto win 6-2, sending the Hawks to their 18th straight road loss.

How to Watch and Listen

TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WGN 720

Scouting the Opponent and Miscellaneous Musings

The Oilers come in on a staggering 14-game winning streak, and beat the Blackhawks two and a half weeks ago in what ended up a much tighter game than expected. But

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are on a two-game skid where they’ve been outscored 8-2 in those pair of games. In their last ten, the Hawks have scored just 17 goals but have been shutout twice in their last five games. To keep up with the Oilers, they’ll have to match them and that seems like a tall order.

Petr Mrazek will return to the crease tonight, and that will certainly be one preventative way to help keep the Oilers at bay. Again, the Hawks put a scare into the Oilers a few weeks back, but there were also a couple goals taken off the board.

The hardest part for any team playing the Oilers is not getting caught staying put and watching the skill and speed on hand. It’s not as if the Oilers have been blowing teams out, either. But a single goal tonight won’t do it–and perhaps the tough part to swallow from last night’s game was the Blackhawks had opportunities to bury more goals. But Chicago isn’t strong enough roster wise to not cash in when the chances present themselves. In short, they can’t afford to not convert which is a tough spot to be in.

Once Donato was denied and Tatar rushed down the ice and scored, you could see the change. Donato took his frustration out on the boards, banging his stick a couple times as Seattle celebrated.

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Blackhawks find a way tonight, where maybe a little puck luck goes their way or they convert on chances they didn’t yesterday. After all, they kept it close last time out.

But the margin of error is super slim playing the Oilers–so as cliche as its been all season long–they’ll need that 60-minute effort.