Bruins in Chi-Town to take on the Blackhawks

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 18, 2009 9:00 AM EST in Game Previews

The Bruins are in Chicago to skate with the Blackhawks tonight at the United Center. The Bruins, who will be without the services of defensemen Mark Stuart (broken sternum) and Dennis Wideman (undisclosed injury), are looking to snap a 2 game skid. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have registered back-to-back shutout wins.

Know Your Enemy

Chicago Blackhawks (21-8-3)

Head Coach: Joel Quenneville

SB Nation's Blackhawks Blog: Second City Hockey

Leading Scorer

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Patrick Kane	10	23	33	11	12

4 players with 9 goals (Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, Kris Versteeg, & Duston Byfuglien)

Goaltending

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Cristobal Huet	25	1465	15	7		51	2.09	587	536	.913	2

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Antti Niemi	8	480	6	1		12	1.50	191	179	.937	3

Injury Report

Boston
Milan Lucic (Out; Ankle)
Mark Stuart (Out; Broken Sternum)
Dennis Wideman (Doubtful; Undisclosed)

Chicago Blackhawks Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Cam Barker	other-excused	12/17/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Dave Bolland	back	11/06/2009
Adam Burish	knee	09/22/2009

Projected Lines

Boston

Marco Sturm	Marc Savard	Michael Ryder
Daniel Paille	Patrice Bergeron	Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler	David Krejci	Byron Bitz
Steve Begin	Vladimir Sobotka	Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara	Derek Morris
Andy Wozniewski	Andrew Ference
Matt Hunwick	Johnny Boychuk/ Adam McQuaid

Chicago

Patrick Sharp	Jonathan Toews	Marian Hossa
Dustin Byfuglien	Kris Versteeg	Patrick Kane
Andrew Ladd	John Madden	Troy Brouwer
Ben Eager	Colin Fraser	Tomas Kopecky

Duncan Keith	Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson	Brian Campbell
Cam Barker/Jordan Hendry	Brent Sopel

Notes:

- Chicago is 14-3-1 at home

- Chicago has allowed just 2.00 goals per game this season

- The top three teams in face-off percentage are also the top three teams in killing penalties and in my opinion that is not a coincidence (Boston, San Jose, & Chicago).

- If you are in Chicago and you are heading to the game, be sure to pick up a copy of "The Committed Indian" game day program and check out my Q&A with Sam Fels from "The Committed Indian" and Second City Hockey (which I also recommend checking out).

- Patrick Kane celebrated his 21st birthday by begrudgingly agreeing to appear at a charity event to restore his image and spending the night listening to a drunk Vince Vaughn tell him how money he is: (no cabbies were harmed in the making of this video)

- This is the first of a 3 game road trip for the B's who will make stops in Chicago, Toronto, and Ottawa in the next 4 days.

- Game starts at 8:30 and can be seen on NESN and NHL Network. Open thread starts at 8:00.

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Blackhawks Fan YouTube Video (Language NSFW)

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Comments

Cam Barker is “excused”? Any idea why that is?

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 10:04 AM EST reply actions

He left the game early in the third on Wednesday and didn’t return. Coach Q said it was a lower body injury and didn’t think it was very serious. This might just be sitting him for a game just in case.

twitter.com/BlackhawksDL

by Original Six on Dec 18, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks for the update!

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Also, great username

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks.

I tried to post some info for St. Louis, but they just all tried to stab me.

twitter.com/BlackhawksDL

by Original Six on Dec 18, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

St Louis Game Time is great like that.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

Few notes:

Sharp has been centering that second line lately with Versteeg on Toews’ wing. Of course that’s just for about the first 3 shifts of the game because Q loves to play mad scientist all game with the lines.

Huet will almost certainly be in net tonight. Niemi shutout Tampa on Sunday and Huet shutout St. Louis on Wednesday. Both of them changed the talk here from “OMG NO GOALTENDING!!111” to “OMG WE CANT SCORE!!11” But I guess this is the way of Chicago sports.

For those who want to pick up the Committed Indian, you can find them being sold on Madison to the right of the gates and on Damen at the light at Monroe. Its a great read.

Your video makes me feel shame. Great preview. Is this the part we talk about how we should play each other more often and Bettman killed the O6 rivalries?

twitter.com/BlackhawksDL

by Original Six on Dec 18, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions

Yes, I believe this is the space right here:
____________________
[ ____________________]

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

In an effort to make me look like an idiot, Niemi is starting in net tonight.
Also, Hjalmarsson is out tonight. Jordan Hendry will replace him.

twitter.com/BlackhawksDL

by Original Six on Dec 18, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

I’ve never heard of either of those guys. Predicting landslide victory for the Blackhawks and Thomas getting run out of town on a rail after the road trip and replaced by a far shittier goalie.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

Would this be, then, how the Conk Block outdoor streak would stay alive?

by Arenacale on Dec 18, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

I guess so, but I’m pretty sure Thomas is a better goalie than Conklin and I’d rather not do a philadelphia-style platoon of backups.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

That “shittier goalie” you’re referring to better not be Rask, because he is absolutely killing it right now

by delta on Dec 18, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

No I mean the Bruins need two goalies

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 18, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Corny is big cheerleader and Thomas is one of his man crushes. It clouds his vision sometimes.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Helping of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 18, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions

Hjalmarsson

has been one of the best defensive D-men for the hawks this year. He’s been playing with Campbell which has been great because Campbell doesn’t play too much defense.

twitter.com/BlackhawksDL

by Original Six on Dec 18, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

"He's a f#cking warrior....He gets the job done"

Awesome…way to represent buddy.

Should be a great game tonight. I wish you guys weren’t so banged up.

Windy City Hockey

by The Admiral on Dec 18, 2009 4:36 PM EST reply actions

Greetings

So, that vid of the Hawks fan is PRICELESS btw

Just wanna give a friendly good luck tonight, I’ll be a Hawk fan til death but I’ve always followed the Bruins, since growing up near Boston. They made me love hockey. Good luck on the season!

(just not tonight :)

Cheers!

by Hawk4Eva on Dec 18, 2009 6:09 PM EST reply actions