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Preview: Blackhawks at Wild
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[December 05, 2013]
(SportsDirect Inc.)
After making a brief stop at home, the
Chicago Blackhawks head back to the road to take on the Minnesota Wild
on Thursday. Chicago completed its seven-game road trip with six
consecutive victories before dropping a 4-3 decision to Dallas in its
return to the Windy City on Tuesday. Patrick Sharp, defenseman Nick
Leddy and Marcus Kruger scored in a span of less than eight minutes in
the second period after the Blackhawks had spotted the Stars a 3-0 lead,
but Antoine Roussel converted a penalty-shot attempt 3:01 into the third
to help hand the reigning Stanley Cup champions just their second
regulation loss at home this season.
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 Minnesota halted its four-game winless streak (0-3-1) with a 2-0
home triumph over Philadelphia on Monday. Jason Pominville and
Charlie Coyle scored 57 seconds apart early in the third period and
Josh Harding made 21 saves en route to his 10th career shutout. The
Wild have struggled offensively of late, scoring fewer than three
goals in six straight contests.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NHLN, CSN (Chicago), FSN North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (20-5-4): Chicago made roster moves Wednesday,
recalling left wing Jeremy Morin and center Joakim Nordstrom from
Rockford of the American Hockey League and assigned center Brandon
Pirri to the IceHogs. Morin notched three assists in nine games with
Chicago earlier this campaign while Nordstrom scored a goal in eight
contests this season, his first in the NHL. Pirri was one of two
players not to record at least one of the Blackhawks' 50 shots on
goal Tuesday.
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ABOUT THE WILD (16-8-5): Harding's shutout on
Monday was his third of the season, tying him for the league
lead with Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury and Ben Scrivens of Los
Angeles. The goaltender also lowered his NHL-best goals-against
average to 1.45. One day later, Harding was named the league's
Third Star of the Month for November as he went 8-2-2 with a
1.88 GAA and .926 save percentage.
OVERTIME
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The teams split their first two meetings this season, with each
winning on the road.
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Tuesday's game was the second this campaign in which Chicago
registered at least 50 shots. It unleashed a season-high 52 in a
shootout win over Phoenix on Nov. 14.
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Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane, the NHL's First Star for November,
has recorded at least one point in 14 of his last 15 contests.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Wild 2
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