Blackhawks at Ducks
THE STORY: After allowing 14 goals in two games, Chicago’s defense returned to the form that had the Blackhawks on top of the Western Conference not too long ago. Although they lost 1-0 at San Jose on Wednesday, the Blackhawks should able to carry the momentum into Friday’s matinee against the reeling Ducks in Anaheim. The Ducks, who are tied for last in the NHL with the New York Islanders at two goals per game, have lost five straight and 11 of their last 12 to plummet deep in the Pacific Division basement, nine points behind fourth-place Phoenix. Chicago has lost three in a row – including 9-2 at Edmonton and 5-2 at Calgary – after winning four straight, but still leads the tightly packed Central Division as three points separate the top four teams. Chicago defeated visiting Anaheim 3-2 in a shootout on Oct. 25 as the home team is 12-4 in the last 16 meetings.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (12-7-3): Chicago is last in penalty killing at 73.5 percent and allowed four power-play goals in Saturday’s loss at Edmonton. The Blackhawks, though, have extinguished eight of 10 shorthanded situations in the other five of their last six games. Chicago’s defense has been hurt by the absence of Brent Seabrook, who has missed four games with a leg injury and is questionable to play. Chicago is 1-3-0 on its six-game road trip, which concludes Saturday at Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (6-11-4): Anaheim’s offense isn’t the only reason for its collapse. The defense has been inconsistent and so has goaltender Jonas Hiller (5-9-4), whose save percentage (.902) and goals against average (3.01) are well above his career averages (.919, 2.56). Right wing Bobby Ryan left Wednesday’s game with a hip contusion and is questionable to play. Anaheim is already without a pair of key players in defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky (finger) and forwards Jason Blake (wrist).
OVERTIME:
1. Chicago had a seven-game power-play goal streak snapped with a 0-for-4 game Wednesday. The Blackhawks were 8 for 24 in their previous six games.
2. The under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.