Preview: Jets at Blackhawks
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[December 23, 2014]
The Chicago Blackhawks showed why
they are sitting atop the Central Division during a 24-hour stretch over
the weekend. After dropping a nine-round shootout in Columbus on
Saturday night, Chicago learned that longtime assistant equipment
manager Clint Reif passed away Sunday morning, hours before they skated
to a 4-0 victory over Toronto. The win boosted the Blackhawks' record to
14-2-1 over their last 17 entering Tuesday's home game versus the
Winnipeg Jets.
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Winnipeg arrives in town after blowing a two-goal, third-period
lead before falling in overtime to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers
on Sunday, but it has collected points in 11 of their last 12 games
(7-1-4). The Jets have won their last two against the Blackhawks,
including a 1-0 victory in Chicago on Nov. 1. That marked one of the
few blemishes at the United Center for the Blackhawks, who have won
eight straight and are 11-1-1 in their last 13 at home.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), CSN Plus Chicago
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Dec/23/images/ads/current/watkins_sda111912.png) ABOUT THE JETS (17-10-7): Forward Mathieu Perreault signed a
three-year, $9 million deal to join Winnipeg in the offseason and
appeared to be buckling under the weight of the contract, failing to
score in his first 19 games. Perreault has since turned things
around with six goals in his last 14, including one in each of the
last two contests, and is riding a seven-game point streak. "He's
definitely creative and he sees the ice pretty good," linemate
Michael Frolik said. "He's a good play-maker. He's getting more
confident as the season has gone on.”
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (23-9-2): Patrick Kane has sparked the recent
tear with 12 goals and 14 assists in the past 18 games and has four
tallies and six assists during a six-game point streak. Patrick
Sharp is starting to find his form after missing five weeks due to a
lower-body injury, collecting three assists Sunday to give him two
goals and five points in his last four. Corey Crawford, who absorbed
the loss in Saturday's shootout in his return from an eight-game
absence, is expected to make the start after Antti Raanta blanked
the Maple Leafs.
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OVERTIME
1. Kane has six goals and seven assists in 10 games versus Winnipeg.
2. Jets D Dustin Byfuglien has three goals and four assists in eight
games since he was shifted from forward to the blue line.
3. Chicago's top-ranked penalty kill has snuffed out 35-of-37
short-handed situations in the past 15 games.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Jets 2
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