NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Blackhawks close their season series with the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, having a 1-5-1 record against them this season. While it was hard to say goodbye to facing the Detroit Red Wings on a regular basis, it will be very easy to say goodbye to having to play the Lightning eight times in a year. Tampa Bay has yet to lose in regulation this season to Chicago, going 6-0-1, including a 2-0-1 mark at the United Center. The Lightning have earned points in 23 of their last 24 games against Chicago, going 20-1-3 since the start of the 2010-11 season. Chicago is five points behind the Dallas Stars for fifth-place in the Central Division and seven points behind the Nashville Predators for fourth-place in the Divisional playoff race.
Two fun notes on tonight’s game: First, it is Pride Night at the United Center tonight with the Blackhawks wearing specialty sweaters and pride tape during warmups, where the game-worn sweaters and taped sticks will be up for auction to benefit local organizations that provide resources to the LGBTQ+ community or increase diversity in hockey including the Center on Halsted and the Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA). The other note is that tonight is the first of three-straight games where the Blackhawks will be wearing their 2019 Winter Classic black and white sweaters. I love that they have become regular alternate sweaters in the rotation.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH+, BSFL, ESPN+
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (22-21-5, 49 pts)
DeBrincat – Dach – Hagel
Hinostroza – Suter – Kane
Kubalík – Strome – Kurashev
Connolly – Kämpf
Keith – Boqvist
Kalynuk – Murphy
Stillman – Zadorov
Beaudin
Lankinen
Subban
Lightning (32-14-2, 66 pts)
Palat – Point – Barre-Boulet
Killorn – Cirelli – Johnson
Goodrow – Gourde – Coleman
Maroon – Colton – Joseph
Hedman – Cernak
McDonagh – Savard
Sergachev – Schenn
Vasilevskiy
McElhinney
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Calvin de Haan (Day-to-day – Hip)
Ryan Carpenter (Day-to-day – Concussion)
Brent Seabrook (LTIR – Retirement)
Zack Smith (LTIR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (LTIR – Retirement)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Lightning:
Nikita Kucherov (LTIR – Hip Surgery)
Anders Nilsson (LTIR – Concussion)
Marián Gáborík (LTIR – Indefinite)
Steven Stamkos (Out Indefinitely – Lower Body)
Jan Rutta (Week-to-week – Lower Body)
What To Watch For
• Kevin Lankinen will get the start tonight for the Blackhawks against Tampa Bay. Lankinen has an 0-2-1 record in three starts against the Lightning this season, with a .874 save-percentage and a 3.93 GAA. Those are his lowest save-percentage and GAA numbers against any Central Division opponent this season. Lankinen is 2-3-0 with a .861 save-percentage in his last five starts for Chicago.
• Since an April 10th game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Blackhawks are 17-for-17 on the penalty-kill. Since March 25th, their 90.6% penalty kill rate is second in the NHL. They have the third-fewest times short-handed (32) in the NHL since March 25th as well. Chicago is 15-for-24 on the penalty-kill against the Lightning this season.
• Andrei Vasilevskiy is 6-0-0 this season against Chicago and has never lost in his career to the Blackhawks, going 10-0-0 in 10 career starts. The Blackhawks are one of three teams he’s yet to lose to in his career, carrying a 12-0-0 record against the Red Wings and a 4-0-0 record against the Anaheim Ducks.
Get Caught Up …
To me, this is Colliton basically admitting he knows the Hawks won't be making the playoffs, but wants to keep up the mathematic possibility as long as possible.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 27, 2021
Kevin Lankinen will start in goal tonight vs. Tampa Bay.
Dylan Strome will be back in and play center. Rest of lineup is TBD: "Got some things to iron out," per Jeremy Colliton. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 27, 2021
Colliton on Strome reentering the lineup tonight at center:
"I would be surprised if he wasn't really good tonight. We just feel like putting him in his comfort zone might help us get the most out of him."
Full quote: pic.twitter.com/S6Jq9XS5dp
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 27, 2021
Andrew Shaw, who announced his retirement yesterday, is watching morning skate from the bench. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/KU2Me5ySHG
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 27, 2021
Jon Cooper has often said, “As ‘Heddy goes, we go.’” So it should come as no surprise as @TBLightning recent woes aligned with Hedman’s admitted struggles. What’s caused the ‘lull?’ Tired? Our deeper look, with insight from Norris Trophy winner https://t.co/KYTWOKlDzU
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) April 27, 2021
