• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Look to Close November Strong

By Scott Schultz November 26th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Despite a bit of a stumble last week, Chicago Blackhawks fans appear to have some hope for the future as the Hawks are starting to show signs of the playoff-caliber team they can be. Tonight at the United Center, the Blackhawks will host the Dallas Stars, who are coming off a 2-1 shootout victory over the Hawks on Sunday night. Friday night they will host the Colorado Avalanche on the front end of a home-and-home, back-to-back set of games.

Heading into last weekend, the Blackhawks had only faced three divisional teams in their first 22 games, with two against the same team (Nashville Predators). Saturday’s contest with the Stars began a stretch of five consecutive Central Division opponents, with Dallas taking the ice as one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

RELATED: Blackhawks Weekly: The Bright Side of 3 More Losses

Entering Saturday’s matchup, the Blackhawks and Stars were tied for fourth in the NHL, each with a .920 team save percentage (SV%). Blackhawks netminder Robin Lehner stopped 40 of 41 shots for a .976 SV%, but fell to 8-22 for his career in shootouts after going 0-2. Lehner’s difficulty in shootouts may need to be addressed in future, and the Vezina Trophy finalist gets it.

Robin Lehner stops 40 of 41 shots faced, but the #Blackhawks drop the Central Division clash in a shootout. #CHIvsDAL
https://t.co/kNKdH10spd

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 24, 2019

“I just want to win. I came here to help this team win,” Lehner said on Monday, two days after the Blackhawks lost 2-1 to the Stars in a shootout.

“I just want us to make the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs. That’s why I signed here. So if the coach feels that, he should definitely go for it. I would definitely not be mad. All for the team, and I wouldn’t take it personal because I know I’m a good hockey goalie. Has nothing to do with the shootout. Has nothing to do with the breakaways. It’s just a totally different game.”

A shot from the point that went off Roope Hintz’s shin pad was the only tally Lehner allowed in regulation time, and he now ranks first among all goaltenders with a .938 SV% on the season.


Tuesday, Nov. 26 vs. Stars

The Stars started their 2019-20 campaign struggling, opening with a 1-7-1 record in their first nine games, but have been on a tear ever since, picking up 29 out of a possible 32 points in their last 16 games to move their record to 15-8-2. With the weekend win over the Blackhawks, the Stars are in second place in the Central Division.

Leading the offensive charge for the Stars is Tyler Seguin’s 19 points, with 13 assists on the season. Hintz tops the goals column with 10, including one on the power play. In net, goalie Ben Bishop is currently 8-5-1 with a 2.25 goals against average (GAA). Backup netminder Anton Khodobin is 6-3-1 with a 2.15 GAA.

Tyler Seguin, Anton Khudobin, Brock Boeser
Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin and Tyler Seguin defend against Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

The Stars injury report includes John Klingburg, who remains on injured reserve, and John Dowling, who is listed as out.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Stars 1


Friday/Saturday Nov. 29, 30: Home-and-Home vs. Avalanche

The Avalanche enter the week coming off a 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. They will host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night before heading to Chicago for a Friday matchup with the Blackhawks.

Against the Maple Leafs, the Avalanche scored almost as soon as the game started, but a four-goal first period for Toronto proved to be too much for them to overcome, losing their second straight game dropping their season record to 13-8-2.

Posing a challenge to the Blackhawks’ surging offense, the Avalanche defense held Toronto to just three shots on goal during the second period, matching their fewest shots against in a period this season. They also succeeded in the faceoff circle, holding possession on 60.3 percent from the faceoff circle — their highest faceoff-win percentage of the season thus far.

RELATED: Avalanche Weekly: Next Man Up

The Hawks defense will need to find an answer to Andre Burakovsky, who is riding a five-game point streak, having now registered nine points during the run (five goals, four assists). The streak matches his highest point total over any five-game stretch during his career.

Colorado Avalanche Andre Burakovsky St. Louis Blues Alexander Steen
Colorado Avalanche’s Andre Burakovsky handles the puck as St. Louis Blues’ Alexander Steen defends (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

During their loss to the Minnesota Wild last Thursday, Cale Makar’s November tear continued as the rookie defenseman tallied a pair of goals. Makar is currently the leading rookie scorer in the league with 25 points –- a seven-point margin ahead of Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson. His 25 points trails Avs’ leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon who sits with 33 points on 14 goals and 19 assists. The Avalanche injury list is extensive, with Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog, Colin Wilson, Tyson Jost and Matt Calvert all listed as out.

FRIDAY PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Avalanche 3

SATURDAY PREDICTION: Blackhawks 1, Avalanche 3

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 16th 6:10 PM
Hockey History

25 Best Senators’ Memories From 25 Years at Canadian Tire Centre

Jan 16th 6:00 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Colangelo, Andersson, Drew & More

Jan 16th 5:50 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Need Taxi Squad to Drive Better Results in Net

Jan 16th 5:40 PM
Women's Hockey

Toronto Six 2021 Season Preview

Jan 16th 5:30 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Have a lot of Options to Deal With Laine

Jan 16th 5:20 PM
Dallas Stars

Stars’ COVID-19 Cases Could Cost Them

Jan 16th 4:25 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Campbell, Andersen, Tavares & Robertson

Jan 16th 4:15 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Look to Benefit From Week Off

Jan 16th 3:05 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Josh Anderson’s Canadiens Debut Should Make Marc Bergevin Proud

Jan 16th 2:55 PM
Other Leagues

OHL Would Benefit From 24-Game Season

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information