How do the Chicago Blackhawks stack up against the Philadelphia Flyers? We will find out today in Game 1 of the 2019-20 NHL season.
After a long offseason, the Chicago Blackhawks are back playing meaningful hockey again. After an interesting offseason, what can we expect out of the Blackhawks?
The Chicago Blackhawks had an exciting offseason by adding some fresh names like Alexander Nylander and Robin Lehner to their lineup. Nylander gives the Blackhawks a young project player to work with on a line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, while Lehner gives the Blackhawks the best 1-2 punch when it comes to goalies in the NHL.
Coming into this season, all eyes are on Patrick Kane, who is coming off of a career-best 110-point season, where he led his team in scoring. It will be interesting to see if Patrick Kane can rekindle some of the fire he brought last year. If they want to start off fast, the Blackhawks are going to need players like Kane and Toews to play like they did last year.
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Things to Watch For
Patrick Kane will be an impact player in today’s game. Kane was a key part of the success the Blackhawks had last season, considering they had a losing record when he didn’t touch the score sheet. Kane is going to have to start off fast this season to give the Blackhawks the boost they need.
With a strong offseason, and playing with Toews in the preseason, both Kane and Toews look ready to get off to a hot start this season. Both players know the importance of starting off hot and know that slow starts are the reason why they’ve missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
The Flyers will be coming out hot, especially after losing 4-3 a few days ago to a non-NHL team during their NHL Global Series matchup against Lausanne. They are going to want to shake that loss off, even though that loss means nothing towards their standings. The Flyers losing to Lausanne doesn’t mean they will be a pushover for the Blackhawks. They surely don’t want to leave Europe with two losses.
My pick for the standout player in today’s game is none other than the newly extended Alex DeBrincat. After signing his new 3-year, $19.2 mil ($6.4 mil AAV) extension, he should be ready and motivated to get off to a fast start this season.
The Cat is BACK!
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 3, 2019
Alex DeBrincat has signed a 3-year contract extension that runs through the 2022-23 season, with an AAV of $6,400,000. #Purr #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/rF4ztP9YON
This game should be exciting. The Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers are looking to continue their mini-rivalry that started in 2010, when the Blackhawks defeated the Flyers in six games to win the Stanley Cup.