SITREP: Previewing the Blackhawks vs. Flames

Cooked up a game preview for tonight as the Hawks host the Calgary Flames. No news from morning skate. Lineup remained the same as yesterday. Just a couple of NHL news pieces at the bottom.

Morning Skate

Same lineup as yesterday. You can read my thoughts on the potential Greene-Bedard connection here. Spencer Knight will start tonight.

I was listening to the DFO Rundown Insider Edition this morning, and it appears that Connor Murphy is a possible player to be traded by the deadline. Ilya Mikheyev is also a likely candidate, but it's very possible that the Hawks resign him.

I do have thoughts on this and may save them for an article. So stay tuned and check out the preview below.

Blackhawks vs. Flames 7:30 pm CT

The Chicago Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames tonight at 7:30 pm CT. The Hawks are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, coming off a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. They sit four points out of a wild-card spot. The Flames, on the other hand, are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games in a season that is spelling the start of a rebuild. Despite their struggles this season, they sit three points behind the Blackhawks in the West and are seventh in the Pacific Division.

For as bad as the Flames have been this season, their 5v5 analytics aren't horrible. Their expected goals share places them in the middle of the league (17th), and they rank 11th in Corsi. Their problem is finishing. The Flames have an expected goals rate of 2.64/60 but an actual goals rate of 2.14/60. That's in large part due to a horrendous team shooting percentage of 7.30%—31st in the league.

It's not pretty on the backend. The Flames sit at 19th in 5v5 team save percentage (.901), and goaltender Dustin Wolf has a -3.4 goals saved above expected, which ranks 63rd. The good news is that backup Devin Cooly has looked good in his 14 games played. Cooly boasts a 10.6 goals saved above expeected which ranks ninth overall, according to Money Puck's data.

This is a team the Hawks should beat. Chicago has the upper hand on special teams with a penalty kill that ranks second in the league, up against the Flames powerplay that ranks 30th. The Hawks' powerplay ranks seventh, while Calgary's PK ranks ninth. More importantly—and knock on wood—Connor Bedard will be back.

Bedard makes the Blackhawks a better team.

NHL News

• The New York Rangers lost at home (again) 8-4 against the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers were booed off the ice after the first period (a 4-0 lead for Ottawa).
• Brayden Point is week-to-week for Tampa with an undisclosed injury.
• Neal Pionk is now one of three Winnipeg Jets defensemen who are listed week-to-week.

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