Blackhawks looking to repeat history against the Rangers

Chicago Blackhawks (27-32-13, 67 pts) @ New York Rangers (28-35-9, 65 pts)
6 pm CT – Madison Square Garden
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks have a quick turnaround, which is a good thing after stinking up the joint in a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night. They will take the ice at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers, who have lost six straight games. If there was ever a “get right” game, this would be it.

The Blackhawks are 6-3-0 in their last six games at the “World’s Greatest Arena,” and have earned points in 10 of their last 17 games against the Rangers. Tyler Bertuzzi is riding a three-game goal streak versus New York. His line with Frank Nazar and Nick Lardis was rather ineffective against the Flyers last night, so look for a big bounce-back game out of them. Connor Bedard, who scored his 30th goal of the season last night, has a goal and four points during his current three-game point streak against the Rangers.

Will History Repeat Itself?

The Blackhawks won the first meeting between these two teams back on Dec. 10. The situations nearly mirror each other. Heading into that game, the Blackhawks had back-to-back blowout losses on the road, 6-0 to the Los Angeles Kings and 7-1 to the Anaheim Ducks. They responded with one of their best games of the season, shutting out the Rangers 3-0.

Tonight is the first of seven straight home games for the Rangers, which is not a good thing. They are 9-18-7 on home ice this season. Only the Vancouver Canucks have fewer wins at home, with eight. The Rangers have been shut out a league-leading nine times this season, with seven of those coming at Madison Square Garden.

Starting on Time

For much of the season, the second period has been a thorn in the collective side of the Blackhawks, but lately, the first period has been the problem. They have allowed a goal in the first minute of play in each of the last two games. Chasing the lead from the get-go is not a recipe for success, so they'd better be ready to play tonight.

Last night, head coach Jeff Blashill said they didn’t have enough guys “close to their best.” They will need to be at their best from the drop of the opening faceoff. If I were Blashill, I’d move Ryan Donato down to the fourth line with Sacha Boisvert and Landon Slaggert. He brings more willingness to engage physically than Teuvo Teravainen. Let that line start the game and throw some checks to get the rest of the bench going. There was very little engagement in Philadelphia, so get some going right from the opening draw.

The Rangers have allowed 72 first-period goals this season, the fifth-most in the NHL. It’s time to flip the script and be the team that jumps out to an early lead. You can’t keep spending the whole night chasing a lead.

Louis Crevier Appears to Be Ok

Late in last night’s game, likely after most of you turned it off, Louis Crevier was involved in a scary play. He caught the skate blade of Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler in the face and did not return to the game.

After the game, Bedard told reporters that Crevier was in the locker room and talking to the guys. Blashill said he avoided a serious injury and “should be fine.” Considering the Blackhawks did not recall a defenseman from the AHL today, he will be good to go tonight.

Crevier scored the game-winning goal in the first game against the Rangers with this shorthanded beauty.

Season Series

12/10 vs NYR, 3-0 W
3/27 @ NYR

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Connor Bedard (30)
A-Bedard (37)
P-Bedard (67)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (11)
GWG-Bedard (5)
SOG-Bedard (196)
PIM-Louis Crevier (59)

Rangers Team Leaders

G-Mika Zibanejad (32)
A-Zibanejad (37)
P-Zibanejad (69)
PPG-Zibanejad (15)
GWG-Alexis Lafrenière (5)
SOG-Zibanejad (196)
PIM-Vincent Trochek (56)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.57 (30th)
GA/G-3.17 (22nd)
PP%-17.9 (23rd)
PK%-84.8 (1st)
SOG/G-24.4 (32nd)
SA/G-30.2 (31st)
FO%-46.4 (31st)
PIM/G-9:14 (20th)

Rangers Team Stats

GF/G-2.76 (26th)
GA/G-3.18 (24th)
PP%-24.3 (7th)
PK%-78.1 (23rd)
SOG/G-25.2 (30th)
SA/G-29.4 (23rd)
FO%-54.2 (2nd)
PIM/G-7:42 (6th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Ryan Greene-Connor Bedard-Anton Frondell
Tyler Bertuzzi-Frank Nazar-Nick Lardis
Andre Burakovsky-Ryan Donato-Ilya Mikheyev
Teuvo Teravainen-Sacha Boisvert-Landon Slaggert

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Artyom Levshunov
Wyatt Kaiser-Sam Rinzel
Ethan Del Mastro-Louis Crevier

Scratched
F-Sam Lafferty, F-Dominic Toninato

Injured
F-Oliver Moore (lower body), F-Andre Mangiapane (lower body), D-Matt Grzelcyk (upper body)

Rangers Probable Lines

Forwards
Gabe Perreault-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-Vincent Trocheck-Adam Sykora
Tye Kartye-J.T. Miller-Conor Sheary
Taylor Raddysh-Jonny Brodzinski-Jaroslav Chmelar

Defensemen
Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox
Will Borgen-Braden Schneider
Drew Fortescue-Matthew Robertson

Scratched

F-Adam Edstrom, D-Vincent Iorio, F-Juuso Parssinen

Injured
F-Matt Rempe (upper body), D-Urho Vaakanainen (upper body), F-Noah Laba (lower body), G- Jonathan Quick (upper body)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (7-13-3, 3.69 GAA, .883 SV%, 1 SO) vs Dylan Garand (0-0-1, .946 SV%, 1.85 GAA, 0 SO)