NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes get their one game series on tonight after having tomorrow’s game postponed.
Chicago will have a three-day layoff after tonight, so hopefully that translates to fresh legs going full-out and the Blackhawks putting in a much needed 60-minute effort against a challenging Hurricanes team. Or should I say “Whalers,” as Carolina is set to wear their Hartford Whalers-inspired Reverse Retro uniforms tonight. Chicago is 1-0-1 against the Hurricanes this season, and sit one point ahead of them in the standings, but behind them in points percentage, having played more games.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, FS-CR, NHLN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200-AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (9-5-4, 22 pts)
DeBrincat – Suter – Kane
Hagel – Strome – Kubalík
Janmark – Söderberg – Kurashev
Carpenter – Kämpf
Keith – Mitchell
de Haan – Carlsson
Zadorov – Beaudin
Boqvist
Lankinen
Subban
Hurricanes (10-3-1, 21 pts)
McGinn – Aho – Teravainen
Niederreiter – Trocheck – Necas
Svechnikov – Staal – Foegele
Martinook – Paquette – Fast
Slavin – Hamilton
Gardiner – Pesce
Skjei – Bean
Reimer
Nedeljkovic
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Brent Seabrook (IR – Lower Back)
Zack Smith (IR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (IR – Concussion)
Kirby Dach (LTIR – Wrist)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Connor Murphy (Day-to-day – Hip)
Hurricanes:
Petr Mrazek (Day-to-day – Thumb)
Max McCormick (IR – Upper Body)
What To Watch For
• Kevin Lankinen starts tonight for Chicago after notching his first career NHL shutout in his last start. With a 7-2-3 record this season, Lankinen has been one of the main reasons behind Chicago’s success this season. But lately, he hasn’t been alone in net. Malcolm Subban has gone 2-0-1 in his last three starts, having allowed just six goals over those three games. Subban allowed five goals in his first start of the season back on opening night. Subban and Lankinen have combined for the NHL’s second-best goals per game allowed marker (2.07) since January 22. The duo also ranks in the top-five in the NHL in save percentage since January 22 (min. 3 games) with Subban (.939) third and Lankinen (.938) fourth.
• On the other side of the ice, James Reimer gets the start for the Hurricanes. He is 7-1-0 this season in eight games played, but has sub-par numbers in net with a 3.10 GAA and a .895 save percentage. Reimer has allowed three or more goals in his last six starts, including allowing five goals in a loss against the Blackhawks back on February 4.
• Patrick Kane has led the Blackhawks all season in points, currently with 23 points in 18 games played. While he has eight points over his last six games, Kane only has one goal scored in that stretch. He is currently on pace for 71.5 points this season, including scoring on a 21.77 goal-pace this season. Kane has scored 20 or more goals in each of his 13 previous NHL seasons.
Betting Odds
The Blackhawks are +1.5 point underdogs against the Hurricanes tonight, and find themselves at +150 on the moneyline according to the DraftKings Illinois Sportsbook. You can go right here to sign up and make a bet.
[bet-promo id=”166783″ ]
Get Caught Up …
Boqvist: "Carolina's a little bit better team than Detroit."
You don't say?
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 19, 2021
Hagel: "The success we’ve been having is for a reason. It’s not just happening. It's not luck. It’s everyone buying in and continuing to build and becoming a great hockey team."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 19, 2021
Colliton on tomorrow's postponement: "We were lucky to stay on schedule [up til now]… In this year, you've got to be flexible and not let any of those changes affect your mindset."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 19, 2021
Retro look pic.twitter.com/dmjTVCF0J1
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) February 19, 2021
Interesting Reverse Retro uniform note for tonight. The league deemed our light gray as “dark” uniforms so we will see gray vs. white tonight. Enough additional differentiation between the white, red and black vs the gray, green and blue. https://t.co/rvbKvMJmlM
— Mike Forman (@MForman5) February 19, 2021
