Senators at Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks suffered a pair of one-goal losses on a brief road trip and look to get back in the win column when the Ottawa Senators visit Sunday. The Blackhawks lost at Nashville and St. Louis by identical 3-2 scores, recording 56 shots on goal combined after averaging more than 44 in their previous four games. Chicago, which started the season 4-0-1 before the two defeats, faces an Ottawa team with points in five straight after an overtime loss to New Jersey on Saturday.
Patrick Sharp notched a goal and an assist against St. Louis on Saturday for the Blackhawks, who have been without injured No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford (upper body) the last three games. The Senators played for the first time in a week Saturday after the postponement of Wednesday’s game against Toronto due to the shootings in Canada’s capital city. Both teams are finishing their first pair of back-to-back games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network-US, TVA and CITY (Ottawa), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (4-1-1): Just about everyone has contributed to a balanced Ottawa offense in the first few weeks of the season and Bobby Ryan could be ready to break out after a goal and an assist Saturday. Former Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson has recorded a point in his last five games after being shut out in the opener. Robin Lehner was in net Saturday and boasts a .936 save percentage with points all three starts while Craig Anderson is 2-1-0 with a .939 SP in his three starts.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (4-2-1): Antti Raanta has played well in three starts over five days while replacing Crawford, surrendering six goals on 90 shots with a shutout. Chicago has managed to score more than two goals in only two of the first seven games and has yet to get a tally from center Brad Richards. Patrick Kane, who joins Sharp and Andrew Shaw with three goals to lead the team, needs one point to reach 500 in his career and forward Dan Carcillo is expected to miss the game with a knee injury.
OVERTIME
1. The Blackhawks have claimed six of the last eight meetings and the teams split a pair of games last season, each winning at home.
2. Ottawa RW Alex Chiasson, acquired in the deal for Jason Spezza during the offseason, has two goals in his first six games – both on the power play.
3. Chicago RW Marian Hossa, who started his career with Ottawa, is three points short of 1,000 in his career.