When: Sunday, November 2nd, 2014
Time: 8:00 p.m. CST
Where: United Center, Chicago, lllinois
Records: Winnipeg Jets (5-5-1), Chicago Blackhawks (6-4-1)
Television/Radio: TSN3, WGN/ TSN 1290 Radio
On the Horizon: Tuesday, November 4th at home against the Nashville Predators (7:00 p.m. CST).
Last Game: 1-0 win (SO) over the New York Rangers
Top Scorers:
Winnipeg Jets: Bryan Little (5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points), Tobias Enstrom (0 goals, 8 assists, 8 points), Andrew Ladd (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points), Blake Wheeler (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points), Zach Bogosian (0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points)
Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Sharp (3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points), Jonathan Toews (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points), Patrick Kane (3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points), Brandon Saad (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points), Duncan Keith (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points)
Game Day Notes:
– This is the final game of a four game road trip for the Jets.The Jets have earned five of a possible six points so far on the trip. The Jets return home for a two game set starting with a game Tuesday, November 4th against the Nashville Predators (7:00 p.m. CST). The Jets host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, November 6th (7:00 p.m. CST).
– Confirmed by Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press prior to tonight’s game: Michael Hutchinson will start in net for the Jets. Hutchinson’s last start was back on October 12th against the Los Angeles Kings (a 4-1 loss).
– With his 38 save shutout performance against the New York Rangers on Saturday night, Ondrej Pavelec now has a season save percentage of .921, 18th best in the National Hockey League. His save percentage is better than that of Carey Price, Corey Crawford, Ryan Miller, Henrik Lundqvist, Ben Bishop, Sergei Bobrovsky and others. Pavelec has allowed just one goal in his last seven periods of action.
– Jets forward Dustin Byfuglien has registered 38 hits in 11 games, 9th most in the NHL.
– Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom is averaging 24:47 of ice time per game, 15th most in the NHL.
– The Blackhawks have lost four of their last six games, including a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last night.
– According to Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago, Corey Crawford will start for the Blackhawks in net tonight. In 5 games this season, Crawford has a record of 3-1-1 with a 1.93 Goals Against Average and .918 save percentage.
– Blackhawks Top Face-off Guy: Jonathan Toews (58.1%, 9th in NHL)
– Jets Top Face-off Guy: Jim Slater (58.1%, 10th in NHL)
– Who’s Under the Microscope for Chicago: Brandon Saad. Saad has 7 points in 11 games this season but just one goal. Saad had a breakout season for the Blackhawks last season, registering 19 goals and 28 assists and was expected to spend most of the season on the team’s second line alongside Patrick Kane. However, Saad is currently playing on the team’s fourth line as Hawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville looks to get the forward back on the right track.
– Who’s Under the Microscope for Winnipeg: Michael Hutchinson. The 24-year-old rookie goaltender has only started one game this year (a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings)and he was pulled in that game. It will be a tough test for Hutchinson tonight as the Blackhawks are struggling as of late and may not be in the best mood after last night’s loss.
Special Teams Breakdown:
– Chicago PP (19.2%, 16th in NHL), Chicago PK (91.4%, 3rd in NHL)
– Winnipeg PP (8.1%, 27th in NHL), Winnipeg PK (86.7%, 7th in NHL)
Projected Winnipeg Jets Line Combinations:
Evander Kane- Mark Scheifele- Blake Wheeler
Andrew Ladd- Bryan Little- Michael Frolik
Mathieu Perreault- Adam Lowry -Dustin Byfuglien
TJ Galiardi- Jim Slater- Chris Thorburn
Tobias Enstrom- Zach Bogosian
Mark Stuart- Jacob Trouba
Grant Clitsome- Paul Postma
Ondrej Pavelec
Michael Hutchinson
Healthy Scratches: Patrice Cormier, Matt Halischuk, Adam Pardy
Projected Chicago Blackhawks Line Combinations:
Kris Versteeg- Jonathan Toews- Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp- Andrew Shaw- Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell- Brad Richards- Jeremy Morin
Brandon Saad- Marcus Kruger- Ben Smith
Duncan Keith- Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson- Johnny Oduya
Trevor van Riemsdyk- Michael Rozsival
Antti Raanta
Corey Crawford
Healthy Scratches: David Rundblad
Injury Report:
Chicago Blackhawks: Daniel Carcillo (knee)
Winnipeg Jets: Anthony Peluso (upper body, IR)
