Oilers at Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks appeared as though they were making a run toward the top of the Central Division in the middle of December with five straight victories, but nothing has come easy since. The Blackhawks have won only two of the last seven contests and their No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford is out indefinitely with an injury as they prepare to host the desperate Edmonton Oilers on Sunday afternoon.
Chicago had points in three consecutive games (2-0-1) before coughing up a lead in the third period of a 5-4 setback against red-hot Vegas at home Friday. “It wasn’t a great night for our (defense),” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters after the loss. “That was probably as tough a period with how we played with our gap. We gave them the puck and possession on almost every entry, not denying them what we wanted to do.” The Oilers followed up an inspiring 2-1 shootout victory over Anaheim on Thursday by allowing three goals in the first period Saturday en route to a 5-1 loss at Dallas to open a five-game road trip. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid notched an assist Saturday for his team-leading 47th point, but the 20-year-old is suffering through a six-game goal drought in which he has totaled 20 shots.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, NHL Network, TVA, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE OILERS (18-21-3): Leon Draisaitl snapped a three-game point drought with his 11th goal of the season Saturday on the power play, but joined Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with a team-worst, minus-3 rating in the contest. Power forward Patrick Maroon (nine goals, 21 points) will be eligible after serving a two-game suspension for an illegal hit. Recently acquired goaltender Al Montoya made his Oilers debut by stopping 13-of-14 shots in relief of starter Cam Talbot, who has surrendered at least four goals in five of his last six contests.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (19-15-6): Captain Jonathan Toews has notched a goal and an assist in each of the last three games and is second on the team with 28 points. Patrick Kane leads the way with 40 points and has registered seven goals and six assists in his last 11 games while linemate Nick Schmaltz has scored three times and set up four others in the past five contests. Forward Ryan Hartman, who had been skating with Schmaltz and Kane, was scratched Friday because of an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.
OVERTIME
1. Kane scored the winner as the Blackhawks defeated the host Oilers 4-3 in overtime on Dec. 29 after Edmonton won 2-1 in OT on Oct. 19 in Chicago.
2. Blackhawks G Jeff Glass, a 32-year-old rookie, is 2-1-1 with a .908 save percentage while making four straight starts.
3. Edmonton F Ryan Strome played his 300th NHL game Saturday, but has gone five games without recording a point.