NEWSLETTER
What’s on the brunch hockey menu today?
The Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning have put on two incredible games in their previous two meetings. Splitting both games in extra-time, the Blackhawks hope to build on their recent stretch of success, having gone 7-2-1 over their last ten games while sitting comfortably in fourth-place in the Central Division. The game wraps up a five-game homestand for the Blackhawks that spanned the last nine days.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 1:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, NBCSN, SN1, SNW, TVAS
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200-AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (13-7-5, 31 pts)
DeBrincat – Suter – Kane
Kubalík – Wallmark – Hagel
Janmark – Söderberg – Kurashev
Highmore – Kämpf – Carpenter
Keith – Mitchell
Zadorov – Murphy
*de Haan – Boqvist
Lankinen
Subban
(*Game-time decision)
Lightning (16-4-2, 34 pts)
Palat – Cirelli – Point
Killorn – Gourde – Stamkos
Goodrow – Johnson – Coleman
Maroon – Joseph – Volkov
Hedman – Cernak
McDonagh – Schenn
Sergachev – Foote
Vasilevskiy
McElhinney
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Brent Seabrook (LTIR – Retirement)
Zack Smith (LTIR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (LTIR – Concussion)
Kirby Dach (LTIR – Wrist)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Dylan Strome (IR – Concussion)
Lightning:
Nikita Kucherov (LTIR – Hip Surgery)
Anders Nilsson (LTIR – Concussion)
Marián Gáborík (LTIR – Indefinite)
Mitchell Stephens (LTIR – Indefinite)
Betting Odds
The Blackhawks are +1.5 point underdogs against the Lightning tonight, and find themselves at +175 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″ ]
What To Watch For
• Alex DeBrincat leads the Blackhawks in points this season against the Lightning, with four goals and an assist in the previous four meetings. He also extended his points-streak to a season-high eight games, with 12 pointsover that span. DeBrincat is second on the team in points this season with 28 in 21 games, trailing only Patrick Kane. With his first of two goals on Friday night, DeBrincat reached 100 goals for his NHL career and became the 48th player in franchise history to score 100 goals with the Blackhawks.
• Patrick Kane added a pair of assists on Friday night, both coming on DeBrincat’s two goals. DeBrincat and Kane have teamed up to record a point on the same goal 22 times this season. They lead all league duos, ahead of the next closest set of teammates: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid (20). Kane is second in the NHL in points this season with 37 in 25 games, trailing only McDavid’s 43 points. Playing at his highest point-per-game pace (1.48) in his career, Kane also leads the NHL in even-strength points this season with 26.
• Chicago enters Sunday’s game with the league’s best powerplay unit (31.5%) just ahead of the North Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs (31.3%). They have been able to convert once on seven opportunities against the Lightning in the last two games. On the flip side, Tampa Bay has done the same (1-for-7) to the Blackhawks’ penalty-kill unit. In four meetings this season, both the Lightning and the Blackhawks are 3-for-14 on the powerplay against each other.
Get Caught Up …
A letter to the city of Chicago from Brent Seabrook pic.twitter.com/pTkkeENBvt
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 7, 2021
Jeremy Colliton won’t reveal any lineup decisions yet. We’ll know more during warmups today. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 7, 2021
Colliton reflecting on Friday's game: "Overall, for a long stretch, we’ve been pretty good. Last game was not good. Gave up far too much and far too much quality… We have to be much better."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 7, 2021
De Haan: "We're going to see how he feels when he comes to the rink."
On Carlsson and Kalynuk: "Depending on [de Haan], we're going to need an extra guy. They were always coming on the road, so just coming up a day early."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 7, 2021
𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙏𝙑
With Eddie Olczyk away on National game duties for today's game, Patrick Sharp is joining the broadcast!
You won't want to miss this, tune in at 1:30 p.m. 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱 pic.twitter.com/0J8DRdQisT
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 7, 2021
