Blackhawks: Collin Delia gets the start against the Florida Panthers

The Blackhawks are giving Collin Delia another crack at the net for the team tonight against the Florida Panthers. No matter what goalie is in the net, Chicago needs to start the game on the right note.

Collin Delia did not have the best first game in 2020-21. His play included a few bad goals after doing a horrible job playing the puck during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chicago lost their matchup 5-2 with Delia in the net. While his mistakes did not lose them the game, it did not help the cause either.

Delia needs to play better tonight against the Florida Panthers. Last season the Panthers scored 231 goals according to Hockey Reference, and that gave them the seventh-best offense in the league. On average, the Panthers scored at least three goals per game. If Delia can hold them to only two, then I think Chicago has a fighting chance against the Panthers.

There are very few teams this season that will be guaranteed wins for the Blackhawks. In fact, most opponents will see the ‘Hawks as guaranteed wins. So, Chicago’s goalies need to help steal a game or two for the team.

Collin Delia needs to be a rock in the net for the Blackhawks.

It will not be easy for the Blackhawks to go into any stadium this season and come away with the win. However, against the Florida Panthers during their first game of the season, things might be pointing in the Blackhawks’ favor. Chicago has two more games under their belt. Hopefully, they can start the game a level above the Panthers and ride their way to their first victory of the 2020-21 season.

We have seen goalies steal games in the past. Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner were great at standing on their head when the Blackhawks needed them the most, and the past two games have shown how a bad goalie can steal a game the wrong direction.

While Chicago never led against the Lightning or drove the play, during times when they had a decent few minutes or looked like they were starting to turn the corner, a bad goal instantly killed all moment for the Blackhawks. Let’s hope Delia can help turn the storyline away from the goalies and towards the rest of the roster.

Here is the best guess at what the lines could look like tonight since Jeremy Colliton has said there would be no lineup changes.

DeBrincat – Strome – Kane

Kubalik – Suter – Kurashev

Janmark – Wallmark – Shaw

Highmore – Kampf – Carpenter

Keith – Murphy

de Haan – Mitchell

Zadorov – Boqvist

Delia

Let’s hope Chicago can get their first win of the season tonight against the Florida Panthers, Coach Q’s team.