Blackhawks-Wild: Red Hot Chicago Looks to Set History in Minnesota

Game Preview

The Chicago Blackhawks have a chance to make team history tonight against the Minnesota Wild. If the 'Hawks can capture a win tonight they will have won their eight straight game, a Chicago Blackhawks record, but they will have their hands full tonight with the Wild.

The 'Hawks have faced the Wild once this season and lost in a 3-2 heart breaker, but this is a different team than the team that Minnesota faced in October. The first game against the Wild was only Coach Joel Quenneville's fifth game as the Blackhawks head coach, and the 'Hawks coach has now seemed to have found line chemistry that works.

The Wild, who had started off well, have fallen to 10th in the Western Conference Standings. The problem for the Wild has not been their goaltending, as Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding have both been playing well, even if their records do not reflect it. The problem for the Wild has been their ability so score goals as they have averaged only 2.36 goals per game in the month of December.

Keys To Success

1. Not To Let Winning Streaks Get To Their Heads: The 'Hawks can set team history with a win tonight and were peppered with questions about the streak after Friday's game. If they can just continue to play like they have been playing and only focus on the game at hand, then they will continue to have chances to continue this streak.

2. Continue Good Play Shorthanded: The 'Hawks were able to shut down the Flyers when they were on the power play, if they could stay out of the box that would be better, but it is likely that the 'Hawks will take at least one penalty.

3. Solid Defense: The offense has played well and if the 'Hawks can gain an early lead, the defense is going to have to make sure they can hold it as the Wild are not known for giving up bunches of goals.

Players To Watch

Andrew Ladd

Is there anyone hotter than Andrew Ladd on the 'Hawks? No. He has scored 12 points in his last eight games and shows no signs of stopping. The line that Ladd plays on with Martin Havlat and Dave Bolland has looked like the 'Hawks top line rather than their checking line.

If you haven't taken notice of Andrew Ladd or his line in general make sure to look for him, Havlat, and Bolland anytime they touch the ice.

Jonathan Toews

Point-wise, Jonathan Toews has been a bit cold recording only three points in his last six games, but Toews is probably playing the best all-around hockey on the 'Hawks. All Toews cares about is winning games and if he scores then that's just gravy, I hope Toews can get some points for his unselfish play.

Projected Line-Up

Forwards

Brouwer-Sharp-Kane

Byfuglien-Toews-Versteeg

Ladd-Bolland-Havlat

Eager-Fraser-Adams

Defense

Keith-Seabrook

Campbell-Johnson

Wisniewski-Walker

Goaltender

Khabibulin