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 “They’re probably the best team in hockey right now,” Lightning
captain Steven Stamkos told reporters. “It’ll be a good test for us
and a good measuring stick to see where we are.” League scoring
leader Patrick Kane, who has been kept off the scoresheet only seven
times in 49 games, is on another run with five goals in three
contests to lead Chicago’s lethal offense. Corey Crawford, who was a
major factor in the Stanley Cup Final last season, has won a
career-best nine games in a row for the Blackhawks and surrendered
just 12 goals in his last eight. Tampa Bay’s offense has woken up
during its surge - registering a total of 24 goals, with Nikita
Kucherov leading the way with a six-game point streak.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, CSN Chicago, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (32-13-4): Chicago improved to 29-3-2 when
scoring the first goal after Artem Anisimov snapped a scoreless tie
late in the first period on Tuesday. Kane (71 points) has reached 30
goals for the second time in his career and first since 2009-10,
when he reached the mark in 82 games. Linemate Artemi Panarin, who
leads all NHL rookies with 45 points, has netted a goal and set up
five others over the last three games while captain Jonathan Toews
has recorded three tallies in four contests.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (25-17-4): Vladislav Namestnikov continues to
produce while playing on a line with Stamkos and Ondrej Palat,
posting 10 points and a plus-10 rating during the team's six-game
winning streak. Kucherov, who anchors another top scoring unit that
includes Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn, has registered seven goals
in his last 10 contests. Ben Bishop, who shut out Chicago at home
last February, is riding a personal three-game winning streak during
which he has allowed a total of three goals.
[to top of second column] |
OVERTIME
1. Chicago LW Richard Panik, who started his career with the
Lightning, has tallied in each of his last two games – raising his
total to five since being acquired from Toronto.
2. Tampa Bay RW Ryan Callahan has recorded just one goal in 32 games
but registered six shots in Tuesday's 6-4 win over Edmonton.
3. The Blackhawks allowed a total of two goals in the last three
games of the Stanley Cup Final and posted a 1-0 overtime win over
the Lightning on Oct. 24.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Lightning 2
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