Penguins vs. Blackhawks: Date, Start Time, TV Schedule for Game at Soldier Field

When the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Chicago to play the Blackhawks on Saturday, the normally raucous crowd in the United Center will be replaced by the outdoor action inside the confines of Solider Field.

After a wild 2014 Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey tournament, Team Canada teammates Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews will now square off as captains for their respective teams in the final battle of the NHL’s Stadium Series.

What better way to officially usher in the second half of the NHL season than by pitting two recent Stanley Cup champion teams against each other in the building that houses the Chicago Bears?

Here is all the vital viewing information for this unique matchup.

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.

When: Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NHL GameCenter (subscription required)

Pittsburgh’s Star to Watch: Marc-Andre Fleury, G

While all the headlines are stolen by the face of the Pittsburgh franchise, Sidney Crosby, the real determining factor in how well the Penguins perform and how deep they can make it in the playoffs is goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

As well as Pittsburgh played during the first half of the 2013-14 season, the notoriously inconsistent Fleury has been sitting since the start of the Olympic break, waiting for his teammates to return.

With that much time away from the game, rink rust is a possibility.

The Penguins play the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, but the first real national spotlight will be on the team Saturday night in Chicago. If Fluery isn’t reacclimated to the everyday grind of the NHL schedule yet, the Blackhawks will make him pay.

Crosby and the Pittsburgh offense will always be able to rack up big goals, but it will be in vein if Fleury doesn’t return to the elite form he possessed before the break.

Chicago’s Star to Watch: Patrick Kane, RW

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After losing in the semifinals to Team Canada, and then Team Finland in the bronze-medal game of the Olympics, Team USA’s Patrick Kane is likely dealing with serious backlash from his captain and Canadian foe, Toews.

With the national stage on Saturday night, Kane will look for redemption.

Pittsburgh has never been a team known for its defensive prowess, and that weaknesses along the blue line will open up space for the entire Blackhawks offense to make plays in the Penguins’ zone.

The frustration from a poor showing in Sochi will still be fresh on his mind, and Kane must use his aggressiveness to drive at Fleury and force him to make saves out of position.

If Kane can play with a power forward mentality by rushing the net hard on the attack and finish with a goal unlike he did during the key moments of the Winter Games, Chicago will pull out the victory.

Prediction

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Both the Blackhawks and Penguins are built to score in bunches using their depth at the forward positions—look for unheralded stars like Patrick Sharp and Chris Kunitz to shine—and hockey fans should expect a hefty dosage of goals on Saturday night.

As talented as the offensive unit in Pittsburgh is, though, Chicago has a far better defensive game plan led by Duncan Keith and also boasts the more talented netminder in Corey Crawford.

The battle inside Soldier Field will come down to which team can make the most defensive stops, and the combination of elite goaltending and fierce play from all defenders gives the Blackhawks the definitive edge.

Predicted Final Score: Chicago 4, Pittsburgh 3

*All stats via NHL.com.

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