Blackhawks-Sharks: A Battle of the Western Conference Elite at the Shark Tank

When the Blackhawks take the ice against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night, there will be more at stake than just revenge for their only regulation home loss of the season.

The Hawks will be looking for their fifth-consecutive road win and fourth on this trip. They have not had a winning Circus Trip since 1997, when they went 3-1-2. In fact, they’ve only had one other winning Circus Trip since moving into the United Center in 1994.

The team will also be looking to improve their standing in the Western Conference as well. They are currently in sixth place in the West, and the Sharks are in first. They have two fewer points than the Ducks, but the Quackers have played four more games than the Hawks.

The Blackhawks will also look to improve upon their third-in-NHL-scoring offense, and will hope to continue the stellar play of their goalies in net. Nikolai Khabibulin has not lost a regulation game since the first game of the season, going 7-1-4 overall this season.

The Sharks are no slouches, however. The Sharks have not lost a regulation contest at home this season—they are an amazing 11-0-1 at HP Pavilion—and they lead the NHL with 80 goals this season. They also have only allowed 51, which is good for third in the league.

The Sharks will also be getting back goaltender Evegeni Nabakov, who has been out for a few weeks with a lower-body injury. Brian Boucher has been solid in net in his absence, but I’m sure that they will not mind having Nabakov back.

Devin Setoguchi will bring a five-game point streak into the contest, having racked up five goals, five assists, and a stellar plus-four during that time. Five of his points during this stretch have been scored on the power play, so the Hawks need to keep all five men on the ice—which they have been able to do recently.

Over the last two games, the Blackhawks have only committed six penalties. This comes after head coach Joel Quenneville benched Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Duncan Keith for most of the second period against the Coyotes after they each committed foolish penalties.

Not to be outdone by the red-hot Setoguchi, Kris Versteeg has put together a five-game point streak of his own, highlighted by his two-goal performance against these Sharks on November 16. He has four goals and four assists over this stretch, and has a commendable plus-three during that time.

The last few games have also marked a re-emergence of Patrick Sharp after a four-game scoreless drought. In the first three games of this trip, Sharpie has three goals and an assist to go with a plus-four. He was instrumental in keeping the Hawks in the game against the Leafs Saturday night, and they will look to him to continue to provide scoring.

Player to Not Let Beat You!

Dan Boyle absolutely torched the Blackhawks last time the two teams met, scoring two power-play goals in the 6-5 victory. He also has at least two points in three of his last four games, and at least a point in five of his last six.

This blueliner is an important part of the Sharks’ success this season, and the Hawks’ fortunes rely on not putting him in power-play situations.

Player the Hawks Need to Succeed

Kris Versteeg scored two goals in the two teams’ previous meeting, and he also has a five-game point streak on the line Wednesday night. His plus-11 indicates that he is also coming into his own as a defender, and his scoring touch will be imperative to stopping the scoring juggernaut at the Shark Tank.

Versteeg also only has two games this year when he’s carried a negative plus-minus. He also has begun taking more shots recently—16 over his last five games.

Other notes

Just announced Blackhawks appearances: Duncan Keith (originally was supposed to be Patrick Sharp) and Bobby Hull will be doing separate book signings in upcoming days. They will be signing copies of “One Goal: Chicago’s Resurgent Blackhawks.”

Keith’s will be December 4, starting at 7pm at the Barnes and Noble at 590 E. Golf Rd. in Schaumburg. Hull’s will be on December 13 at 2pm at the Borders at 1500 16 St., Suite D in Oak Brook.

At both of these events, fans have to buy a book at the location, and must present their receipt before they can get it autographed. Hull and Keith will not be allowed to sign other memorabilia.

The same day as Hull's appearance (December 13), Patrick Sharp will be doing an autograph signing at the Grant’s Appliances in Aurora from 3:30-5:30pm. One autograph per person.