Preview: Blackhawks at Stars
Send a link to a friend
[November 05, 2016]
Corey Crawford led the league in
shutouts last season and his two blankings in his last three games
have him in the early mix for that distinction again. The
31-year-old looks to continue his torrid stretch as the Blackhawks
bid for their fifth straight victory on Saturday when they visit the
Central Division-rival Dallas Stars in the opener of a home-and-home
series.
Crawford, who has turned aside 162 of 167 shots in his past five
starts, made 38 saves in a 4-0 win over Colorado on Thursday as
Chicago improved to 5-0-1 in its last six. Veteran forward Artem
Anisimov, who celebrated playing in his 500th NHL contest by
notching an assist to extend his career-high point streak to nine
games, shredded the Stars last season with one goal and setting up
three others in a 5-1 rout on Feb. 6. Dallas, which won the other
three encounters in 2015-16, snapped a three-game skid with a 6-2
shellacking of St. Louis on Thursday. Veteran goaltender Antti Niemi
turned aside 28 shots versus the Blues and carries a 3-0-0 mark at
home with a 2.00 goals-against average and .937 save percentage into
a date with his former team.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (7-3-1): Coach Joel Quenneville's decision to
shuffle veteran Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane toward different lines
last week was meant to spark the reigning Hart Trophy winner, but
instead the 37-year-old Hossa has been on fire of late. Hossa, who
was limited to a career-low 13 goals last season, scored twice
against the Avalanche and has four goals in his last four games.
"You know, sometimes when the puck goes in early for you, you're
more relaxed," Hossa told the Chicago Sun-Times of his recent
goal-scoring surge. "All of a sudden, you don't force things. I
think, right now, that's what happening. I'm playing with two very
good players (Artemi Panarin and Anisimov), trying to find an open
area, and those guys can find me. Things are clicking."
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
ABOUT THE STARS (4-4-2): Tyler Seguin set up Dallas' first four
goals for a career high-tying four assists on Thursday and looks to
continue his hot stretch against Chicago. The 24-year-old erupted
for two goals and three assists in his last three encounters with
the Blackhawks and has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 15
career meetings. Captain Jamie Benn set up three tallies and
finished with a plus-4 rating against St. Louis on the heels of
mustering just one assist and a -minus-5 rating in his previous five
games.
OVERTIME
1. Dallas D John Klingberg scored twice on Thursday and has four
points (two goals, two assists) in his last four contests.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Nov/05/images/ads/current/bonanza_sda_military_2015.png)
2. Panarin has recorded a goal and an assist on three occasions
during his four-game point streak.
3. The Stars thwarted all three short-handed situations on Thursday
after yielding nine power-play goals in their previous eight
contests.
PREDICTION: Stars 4, Blackhawks 2
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |