Game Day Preview: Final Season Match-Up for Stars and Hawks (HIGHLIGHTS)
Tonight begins a 3 week stint of no more than one day off between games for the Chicago Blackhawks. They have 2 more home games after this, followed by a quick trip to Nashville, back home for Calgary on the 18th, then a road trip out west for Arizona, LA, and San Jose. They're home for Philly and Vegas, and finish April on the road against Buffalo.
Statistically, the Stars are the better team. Their goalies are better. They're better at face offs. And of the 3 game season series, they've won 2. However, both games were only won by 1 goal, and in OT and a S/O. Lankinen was in net for the 4-3 OT loss, and will be between the pipes, again, tonight. Oettinger was the Stars' man for both games, and presumably will be tonight, as well. Dallas will be coming in off a 3-1 loss to New Jersey, so you know that's going to be in their heads, especially with Vegas' win over Arizona, last night. The Golden Knights have just as many points, now, as Dallas, though they're still two games behind; one, after tonight. The Stars sit 2 points behind Nashville for the #1 Wild Card slot, with just as many games played.
For Chicago, at this point, it's hard to tell where the Blackhawks are, mentally. They seemed to be having a lot of fun at practice, yesterday, which I definitely think is important (see D2: The Mighty Ducks when Coach Bombay tosses Dwayne his lasso and tells him to «round �em up» in their last practice before the Iceland game), and Derek King came into his position with a lighter attitude, so maybe that's what they're trying to get back to on their way out. It's a points game for Dallas, and a pride game for Chicago.
| POLL | ||
Who ya got? | ||
| Chicago | 84 | 44.2 % |
| Dallas | 52 | 27.4 % |
| Cheese Fries | 54 | 28.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
