What’s On Tap For The Chicago Blackhawks This Week

What’s on tap for the Chicago Blackhawks this week? (picture courtesy of teamtzzle.com)

The Blackhawks are very close to making history with their 12-0-3 mark they have established.  If they win their next contest they break the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks record ,and  with a shoot out loss they would tie the record with a chance to break it with a win or tie Friday night.  The best stat that keeps being thrown up with the best starts without a regulation loss is the top three 1943-1944 Montreal Canadians, 1984-1985 Edmonton Oilers , and the 2006-2007 Anaheim Ducks all ended up winning the Stanley Cup after their great starts.

 First up for the Blackhawks this week is the first visit of the season to the United Cent by the hated Vancouver Canucks.  The Canucks are currently in first place of the Pacific Division and are only one of three teams to put any type of blemish on the Hawks record with a Roberto Luongo shoot-out victory.  This will be the first of four road games on the Canucks trip and you know that they will be totally focused on not letting the Hawks break the all-time record even if the game is in the United Center.  The goalie situation has calmed down for the Canucks after a shaky start and Luongo even with his name in a lot of rumors has played well.  The Canucks are led by the usual suspects in the Sedin brothers and Alexander  Burrows.  This game is always a backyard brawl so make sure you have a good seat for this potential record breaking game. 

Next up for the Hawks after two days off will be a Friday night match-up against the San Jose Sharks.  Strange scheduling quirk that the Sharks play in Chicago on consecutive Friday nights.  The Hawks have already beat the Sharks twice this season in two different ways, but the only difference now is that the Sharks after winning 7 games in January haven’t recorded a single victory in February.  Antti Niemi has been very good against the rest of the Western Conference but against his former team he has given up 4 goals in each contest.  If the Hawks beat the Canucks and break the record this could be a huge trap game with the Sharks out to prove they can play with the Hawks. 

The week ends in Chicago with the traditional doormat of the Central Division in the way of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They only have one road victory in 6 tries and when you look at their season stats only 6 players have a plus rating which well isn’t good.  The Blue Jackets have been competitive even if their 4-9-2 record doesn’t show it, and they gave the Hawks all they could handle in Columbus with a really bad no goal call costing the Blue Jackets.  Viktor Stalberg after owning them last season was held off the score-sheet in the first meeting and will look to get back to his old form against Columbus. 

Three games all at home this week, What is your prediction for the Hawks record this week?

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