Blackhawks at Canucks
The Chicago Blackhawks may be too far back to make a run at defending their Central Division title, but a playoff berth is easily within their grasp if they can develop any consistency. The Blackhawks will be looking to post just their second three-game winning streak of the season when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Chicago owned the best record in the league after the All-Star break last season and got off to a good start this time around with a 2-1 win at Nashville on Tuesday night to move within fourth points of eighth place in the West. “You need two points,” Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook said. “Two points is two points. We can’t worry about (the standings) now. We’ve got to play our game and try to get as many points as we can and see where it falls at the end of the season.” Vancouver owns the second-worst record in the Western Conference but came out of the break by outlasting Colorado 4-3 in overtime. The Canucks have won the past two meetings against Chicago, including a 5-2 victory in Vancouver on Dec. 28.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (24-19-7): Chicago continues to try and muddle by without starting netminder Corey Crawford, who is not on the road trip and has been sidelined since Dec. 27 due to an upper-body injury. Anton Forsberg started the first game after Crawford's injury and was burned for five goals by Vancouver, but he has permitted two goals or fewer in five of his last six starts, including a 42-save performance in Nashville. "In the third period, he was amazing," Seabrook marveled after Forsberg turned aside all 22 shots over the final 20 minutes.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (20-24-6): Vancouver announced Tuesday that it will try to work out a contract extension with defenseman Erik Gudbranson, who could return to the lineup after missing five games due to a back spasm. "I'm hoping he's ready to go, but I have to talk with him and the doctors and see where we're at," Canucks coach Travis Green said at Wednesday's practice. Rookie sensation Brock Boeser matched a career high with four points versus Chicago in December, but he has goals in just two of 12 games since.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago is 2-for-24 on the power play in the last eight games.
2. Canucks F Bo Horvat scored in Tuesday's win, his first goal in his fourth game back since missing 18 with a broken ankle.
3. Blackhawks F Vinnie Hinostroza has 12 points in 14 games since he was scratched in back-to-back contests.