[10:40 PM] Blackhawks @ Kings

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Blackhawks (14-6-2)

@ Los Angeles Kings (11-9-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Scott Darling (CHI): Confirmed

Peter Budaj(LAK): Likely

 

• The Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks conclude their seven-game Circus road trip against the red-hot Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, and hope to have star center Jonathan Toews back in the lineup. Toews left Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to San Jose with an upper-body injury and missed Chicago’s 3-2 victory over Anaheim on Friday, but Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said his captain is day-to-day and could return Saturday.

• Patrick Kane helped offset the loss of Toews with a goal (seventh of the season) and assist Friday, giving him team bests of 15 assists and 21 points. Artem Anisimov scored his ninth goal – second-most on the club to Marian Hossa’s 11 – while Ryan Hartman recorded his third in five games.

• Kopitar played 19:01 on Wednesday and centered Trevor Lewis and Dwight King, who scored twice to double his goal total for the season. Jeff Carter (team highs of nine goals and 17 points) was kept off the scoresheet by the Islanders after igniting Los Angeles’ winning streak with four goals and two assists in the previous three contests. Marian Gaborik, who suffered a foot injury while playing for Team Europe during the World Cup of Hockey, said he’s ready to return to the lineup Saturday but coach Darryl Sutter told reporters Friday that “we’ll talk to him in the morning” before making a decision.

• The Blackhawks, who went 14-3-2 in their previous three Circus road trips, are in danger of suffering their first losing one since 2006.

• Chicago lost 49-of-67 faceoffs against Anaheim without Toews, who leads the NHL in faceoffs won (292). Toews’ 60.3 percent led the NHL before the Ducks C Ryan Kesler won 22-of-30 on Friday to increase his percentage to 60.7.

• The teams combined to win five of the last seven Stanley Cups with Chicago winning in 2010, 2013 and 2015, and Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

Confidence: 4/10

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