The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t have much to hang their hat on in a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, but the team will hope that the story is different on Friday as they welcome the Winnipeg Jets to the United Center.
The Jets will travel to Chicago for their second game in five days, after losing to the Hawks on Sunday night. In that game the Blackhawks snapped a three-game losing streak and got some big offensive production out of some key players as they picked up two points in a Central Division showdown.
This time around, the Blackhawks will be looking to prove that their performance against Nashville was a fluke. The team made numerous defensive mistakes in the game on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena, with their miscues leading directly to several Predators goals. Add to that the 18 shots they gave up in the first period, and the Blackhawks simply dug themselves a hole that they could not dig out of.
On Friday night, they’ll be hoping that the return of Trevor Daley to the lineup will help solidify them on defense. Daley has missed the team’s last two games with a neck injury he sustained against the Jets in a collision with Chris Thorburn in their Sunday matchup.
Corey Crawford will also be in net for the Blackhawks after having two of his best games of the season earlier in the week. He was positively dominant against both the Jets and Predators, allowing two goals total in the contests, and after Scott Darling allowed four goals on Thursday night, the Hawks will hope that Crawford can carry that momentum into this game.
Winger Patrick Kane will also look to continue his remarkable points streak on Friday night, as he’ll be looking to notch at least one point in his 25th consecutive game. He’s still well off of Wayne Gretzky’s league record of 51, but he’s already shattered the Blackhawks’ team record and added onto it Thursday night with the Hawks’ lone goal against Nashville.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the United Center.
