Follow me @jaeckel


Hey, look! It's the Blackhawk power play!

No need to adjust your sets at home. The Hawks did in fact go 2 for 3 on the power play last night, en route to a 5-4 OT win over the Predators at the UC.

It wasn't the prettiest game, although it was decided by one of the prettier goals of the year, a Marian Hossa one-timer from the right circle off a sweet cross-ice feed from Patrick Kane. That's how it's done, folks.

Was the power play improvement a one-night aberration? I don't think so—the Hawks have been, to my eye, moving the puck and their feet better on the power play for a few games now. But they got rewarded last night. Some might have noticed Duncan Keith is now more at the right point, including on the power play goal where he snuck in for a nice feed from Viktor Stalberg (who was one of the Hawks' best forwards last night).

Corey Crawford's had better (and worse) nights. The Hawks made a lot of sloppy plays at their own blueline, giving Nashville chances that better offensive teams will convert.

But, all told, it was an exciting game that the Hawks, like so many other times this season, found a way to win.

Next up, the NHL (Phoenix) Coyotes invade the UC tonight. This is a team holding on to slim playoff hopes and one that is notoriously hard on the Hawks. Preview:

Phoenix Coyotes@Chicago Blackhawks
7:30PM Central/5:30 Pacific
United Center, Chicago
FS-A+, WGN/WGN Radio


THE BUZZ

The big question tonight is whether occasional minor league revelation Carter Hutton gets his first start with the Blackhawks, or if Crawford takes the net again. I'm going to guess and say Hutton gets the nod.

The Hawks will, again, look to get their power play clicking in advance of the playoffs.


PROJECTED LINEUPS


PHOENIX

SHANE DOAN MARTIN HANZAL RADIM VRBATA
MIKKEL BOEDKER ANTOINE VERMETTE CHRIS CONNER
DAVID MOSS BOYD GORDON ROB KLINKHAMMER
PAUL BISSONNETTE KYLE CHIPCHURA ALEX BOLDUC

ZBYNEK MICHALEK OLIVER EKMANLARSSON
ROSTISLAV KLESLA MICHAEL STONE
KEITH YANDLE DEREK MORRIS

MIKE SMITH


CHICAGO

BRANDON SAAD JONATHAN TOEWS MARIAN HOSSA
MARCUS KRUGER DAVE BOLLAND PATRICK KANE
BRYAN BICKELL ANDREW SHAW VIKTOR STALBERG
DAN CARCILLO MICHAL HANDZUS MICHAEL FROLIK


NIKLAS HJALMARSSON DUNCAN KEITH
BRENT SEABROOK NICK LEDDY
SHELDON BROOKBANK JOHNNY ODUYA

CARTER HUTTON


(Or something like that)


All for now,


JJ

Join the Discussion: » 383 Comments » Post New Comment

» Thanks and Farewell

» Where do we go from here?

» Preds at Hawks Breakdown

» "All Teams Have Flaws"

» The Games You Should Win