Lightning at Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks hope to build off an inspiring victory and continue their promising start when they begin a three-game homestand Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Patrick Kane registered two goals and an assist while Corey Crawford made 37 saves as the Blackhawks posted a 4-1 victory at Columbus on Saturday, keeping their regulation loss total at one through seven contests.
Crawford likely will sit in favor of backup Cam Ward on Sunday after recording his first win since suffering a concussion in December, but his presence gives Chicago some extra juice as it attempts to rebound from a disappointing season. The Blackhawks face another stiff challenge against Tampa Bay, which has won the last five contests in the all-time series and earned at least one point in its last three trips to Chicago (2-0-1) - including a 2-0 triumph in January. The Lightning recorded four wins during their season-opening five-game homestand before coughing up a two-goal lead en route to a 5-4 overtime setback at Minnesota on Saturday in the opener of their five-game road trip. “We were pressing, pressing, pressing, we scored a few and then we probably got a little bit comfortable,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “There were a lot of good things that came out of this, but it definitely wasn’t our most complete game.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Nework, TVA, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (4-1-1): Versatile forward Yanni Gourde is picking up where he left off during his breakout season, notching a goal and an assist Saturday to take over the team lead with seven points - all in the last five games. Nikita Kucherov, who scored a career-high 39 goals in 2017-18, has managed just one in the early going but recorded at least a point in each of his last four contests. J.T. Miller also registered a goal and an assist in Saturday’s setback, giving him six points - second on the team - in his last four contests despite dropping to the fourth line to start games.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (4-1-2): Kane’s big performance on Saturday pulled him into a tie for the team lead in goals (seven) and points (11) with Alex DeBrincat, who has registered at least one point in all seven games this season. Captain Jonathan Toews (10 points) was kept off the scoresheet for the first time Saturday, remaining at 297 career goals, but has netted eight tallies while setting up six others in 16 career games versus Tampa Bay. Ward started the first five contests for the Blackhawks, going 3-0-2 despite posting a 4.07 goals-against average and an .879 save percentage.
OVERTIME
1. The Blackhawks are struggling on the power play (2-for-23) while the Lightning have been perfect in all 25 short-handed situations they've faced.
2. Tampa Bay RW Ryan Callahan scored on Saturday in his second game back from shoulder surgery.
3. Kane has collected eight goals and 20 points in 15 career regular-season contests against the Lightning.