NEWSLETTER
This afternoon matchup for the Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken could not be more of a trap game for the Blackhawks if you tried. The Blackhawks are making their second trip to Seattle this season, having beaten the Kraken earlier this year, 4-2, in their first-ever matchup in franchise history.
If you believe the Blackhawks are good enough to be considered the potential victims of a “trap game,” consider this: Chicago comes into this game having won their last four-straight, while the Kraken have lost their last nine games in-a-row with an 0-8-1 record during that stretch. Seattle has scored more than three goals in a game just three times since December 1, having a 1-1-1 record in those three games. On the flip-side, Chicago has scored more than three goals in a game four times since December 1, going 2-2-0 in those games.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 4:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, ESPN+ (out-of-market)
Radio: WGN 720 AM, TUDN 1200 AM (Spanish)
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (15-18-5)
Hagel – Borgström – Kane
DeBrincat – Toews – Kubalík
Kurashev – Lafferty – Hardman
Khaira – Carpenter – Entwistle
de Haan – Murphy
Stillman – McCabe
C. Jones – Gustafsson
Fleury
Kraken (10-23-4)
Johansson – McCann – Eberle
Donato – Gourde – Jarnkrok
Donskoi – Wennberg – Appleton
Sheahan – True – Blackwell
Lauzon – Giordano
Larsson – Dunn
Oleksiak – Soucy
Grubauer
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Tyler Johnson (Three Months – Neck Surgery)
Brett Connolly (Day-to-Day – COVID Protocol)
Dylan Strome (Day-to-Day – COVID Protocol)
Kirby Dach (Day-to-Day – COVID Protocol)
Seth Jones (Day-to-Day – COVID Protocol)
Reese Johnson (IR – Broken Clavicle)
Kraken:
Chris Dredger (Day-to-Day – COVID Protocol)
Morgan Geekie (Day-to-Day – Upper Body)
Jaden Schwartz (Week-to-Week – Hand)
Brandon Tanev (Out For Season – Knee)
What To Watch For
• Chicago enters today’s game on a four-game win-streak. During this four-game run, Chicago has not allowed more than two goals in a game and Marc-André Fleury has been in net for every win. Fleury is 4-0-0 with a .959 save percentage, 1.24 goals-against average and a shutout in that stretch and is 12-4-2 with a .929 save-percentage since November 7. He’ll make his seventh-straight start for Chicago today.
• Patrick Kane scored his ninth goal of the season in Chicago’s last outing, a 3-0 shutout of the Anaheim Ducks. That goal extended Kane’s current point-streak to a season-high seven games. He has two goals and seven assists over his seven-game streak and leads the Blackhawks with 34 points in 34 games this season.
• Chicago and Seattle are two clubs made for each other. Seattle’s powerplay this season is ranked 19th in the NHL, Chicago is 20th. Seattle’s penalty-kill is ranked 23rd in the NHL, Chicago’s is 26th. Chicago is 20th in the NHL in faceoff win-percentage, Seattle is 21st. Seattle is 24th in goals scored per game, Chicago is 29th. Chicago is 22nd in goals allowed per game, Seattle is 31st.
Get Caught Up
Derek King said Seth Jones has tested out of COVID protocol, but it didn’t make sense to have him fly last minute to Seattle and play major minutes.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 17, 2022
Marc-Andre Fleury starts today for Blackhawks vs. Kraken.
Borgstrom up to 1C where Reichel was. Hardman draws in. McCabe in for Galvas on defense.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 17, 2022
Marc-André Fleury Named NHL’s Second Star of the Weekhttps://t.co/rs0mqdGFrX pic.twitter.com/NA5eWBN39c
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 17, 2022
