Series Preview: Blackhawks vs Stars, March 9 and 11, 2021
Since the last time the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars squared-off, a LOT has happened for both teams. The Stars have gone 2-6-2 over their last ten games since dropping back-to-back overtime loss to the Blackhawks on February 7th and 9th. The Blackhawks have gone 7-4-1 since winning those games over the Stars in February and have climbed into a comfortable fourth-place spot in the Central Division.
Dallas comes into this season with the fewest games played (20) in the Division, thanks to COVID issues and the winter storms that hit Texas hard. The Stars are also seventh in the Division in points (19) and sixth based on points percentage (.475).
One-Timers
• Patrick Kane will play his 1,000th career NHL game on Tuesday night. While not at home at the United Center, Kane will no doubt get recognition from the partial crowd at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Kane becomes the 350th NHL player to play 1,000 games and the seventh to do so in Blackhawks franchise history.
• Chicago has been terrible on the penalty-kill over their recent stretch of games. After killing 19-of-21 powerplays against from January 31 to February 17 (9 games), the Blackhawks have only killed 10-of-24 powerplays against since February 19 (8 games). Chicago was only 7-for-12 on the penalty-kill against the Lightning in their last three games.
• The Stars have gone 3-for-25 on the powerplay over their past eight games. They began the season with eight powerplay goals in the first two games of the year, but only have 11 powerplay goals in 18 games since January 26.
Puck Drops and Broadcast Info
• Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, FS-SW, NBCSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
• Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, FS-SW, NBCSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (13-8-5, 31 pts)
DeBrincat – Suter – Kane
Kubalík – Kämpf – Hagel
Janmark – Söderberg – Kurashev
Highmore – Wallmark – Carpenter
Keith – Mitchell
Zadorov – Murphy
Carlsson – Boqvist
Lankinen
Subban
Stars (7-8-5, 19 pts)
Benn – Pavelski – Gurianov
Robertson – Hintz – Kiviranta
Cogliano – Dickinson – Comeau
Caamano – Faksa – Dellandrea
Lindell – Klingberg
Oleksiak – Heiskanen
Sekera – Pysyk
Khudobin
Oettinger
Tale of the Tape
Powerplay
Blackhawks: 31.2% (2nd)
Stars: 25.7% (8th)
Penalty-Kill
Blackhawks: 72.5% (27th)
Stars: 78.4% (16th)
Faceoffs
Blackhawks: 47.4% (25th)
Stars: 50.1% (17th)
Goals Per Game
Blackhawks: 3.08 (14th)
Stars: 2.80 (20th)
Goals Against Per Game
Blackhawks: 3.00 (16th)
Stars: 2.55 (7th)
Top Scorer
Blackhawks: Patrick Kane – 11 goals, 27 assists, 38 points
Stars: Joe Pavelski – 12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points
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)
Stars:
Alexander Radulov (IR – Lower body)
Ben Bishop (LTIR – Knee Surgery)
Stephen Johns (LTIR – Head Injury)
Tyler Seguin (Indefinite – Hip Surgery)
Keep An Eye Out For
Kane-DeBrincat Connection. Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat rank first and second on the Blackhawks this season in points. They have found their chemistry together this season playing with rookie Pius Suter between them. The pair rank in the top-ten of the NHL in overall points and even-strength points this season. Kane comes into the game with seven points in a four-game point streak, while DeBrincat has 12 points over his last nine games.
Goalie Competition Back On? Kevin Lankinen and Malcolm Subban have jumped out to impressive seasons as the rotating goalies for the Blackhawks. Lankinen grabbed the starter role early on in the year with Subban bouncing back from his poor performance on opening night to play in a steady backup role. But Lankinen has allowed 20 goals against in his last five games (2-2-1), while Subban is 4-1-1 in his six previous starts and has allowed 14 goals in that span. Subban will get the start for Tuesday night’s game after getting a shootout win against the Lightning in his last outing.
