Preview: Blackhawks at Canucks

[November 19, 2016]  The Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks attempt to make it two wins in as many nights when they continue their annual Circus Trip on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Chicago kicked off its yearly trek Tuesday with a disappointing 4-0 loss at Winnipeg but rebounded to post a 3-2 comeback victory at Calgary on Friday that was capped by Marian Hossa's goal with 2:23 remaining in the third period.

The 37-year-old Hossa leads the Blackhawks with 10 tallies and has scored in five of his last six contests. Vancouver is looking to end its four-game homestand with a winning record, as it improved to 2-1-0 with Thursday's 3-2 overtime triumph over Arizona. The Canucks' also kicked off the stretch with an overtime victory over Dallas and have won three of their last five overall contests following a nine-game winless streak (0-8-1) that began with a shootout loss in Los Angeles on Oct. 22. Daniel Sedin has caught fire of late and enters Saturday with a point streak that reached seven games after he recorded a goal and an assist against the Coyotes.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, CBC, Sportsnet (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (12-4-2): Patrick Kane notched an assist Friday for his team-high 19th point, but the reigning Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner has scored just one goal in his last five games. Defenseman Michal Kempny recorded an assist on Hossa's goal against the Flames for his first career point. The 26-year-old Czech, who also registered a team-high five shots in the victory, posted a plus-3 rating and 10 penalty minutes in his first 15 NHL contests. Rookie Tyler Motte, who has registered three goals and three assists in 13 games, has missed five contests with an upper-body injury but could return Saturday.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (7-10-1): Sedin's goal on Thursday was his team-leading sixth of the season and fourth during his point streak. Himself excluded, only four members of the Canucks have more points than he has tallies. Ryan Miller apparently is well enough to at least serve as the backup goaltender against Chicago as Vancouver assigned Michael Garteig to Alaska of the ECHL on Friday. The 25-year-old Garteig, who was signed in April and posted a 5-1-0 record with a 2.52 goals-against average in six games with the Aces, was recalled Tuesday and served as Jacob Markstrom's backup versus Arizona.

OVERTIME

1. The Blackhawks own a 29-11-4 record on their Circus Trip since 2008, including a 3-1-2 mark last season.

2. Vancouver RW Derek Dorsett left Thursday's game with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.

3. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews is in the midst of a five-game goal-scoring drought during which he has recorded only two assists.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Canucks 1

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