PREVIEW: Blackhawks vs. Blues - Dec. 2, 2019

TIME: 7:30 p.m. CT
TV:NBCSCH RADIO:WGN Radio 720STREAM:
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The Blackhawks open the month of December as the St. Louis Blues visit Chicago for the first meeting of the season on Monday night (
TICKETS
).

PREGAME LINKS
WRITTEN
RELEASE: Lankinen Recalled, McCoshen Re-Assigned
RELEASE: Shaw to Miss Game vs. STL
VIDEO
PREVIEW: CHI vs. STL
INSIDE THE ROOM: Murphy
RAW: Colliton on Lineup vs. STL

TEAM RECORDS

• CHI: 10-11-5, 25 PTS (7th in Central)
• STL: 17-5-6, 40 PTS (1st in Central)

LAST TIME OUT

Chicago dropped a 7-3 game on Saturday night in Colorado as Brandon Saad, Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane found the scoresheet in the loss. For Kane, it extended his current point streak to 15 games (11G, 13A) and his team lead in scoring to 33 points with 14 goals and 19 assists, both pacing the team this season.
St. Louis took a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night to open up a three-game win streak to finish the month of November. Jaden Schwartz led the way with a goal and an assist and David Perron notched his team-leading 27th point (11G, 16A) of the season.
In five meetings a year ago, the Blackhawks took four wins from the eventual Stanley Cup champions, including a perfect 3-0-0 record at the United Center. Kane led the way with nine points (5G, 4A), while Vladimir Tarasenko matched Kane's five goals and added two assists of his own.

CAPTAIN 900

Tonight, Jonathan Toews is set to play in his 900th NHL game and become the 10th Blackhawk all-time to reach the mark.
It's yet another accolade for the captain, who reflected after morning skate on what milestones like this mean to him:
"It's special to hit certain marks, I don't think you ever go out there every single night thinking of that - unless you're Kaner and it happens every 20 games or something. I think you look at Seabs (Brent Seabrook) and Duncs (Duncan Keith) and it doesn't feel like we've been here for that long, but then you look back to clips of the older years and oh yeah, time has really flown by. It's special and I think when you're going through the same routine almost every year and training camp, coming to the United Center, it's not that you take it for granted, but it does in some way become a routine. Every time you're able to hit a milestone like games played or points or whatever it is, it's definitely a moment to stop and say 'Hey, this is pretty special' and I can be thankful for what I've been a part of and what I've been given, especially playing here in Chicago for the fans and for this team."

LINEUP NOTES

Chicago was hit with a pair of health-related blows on Monday morning and, as a result, will only dress 11 forwards and six defensemen vs. the Blues.
Robin Lehner (flu-like symptoms) was ruled out for the game, as was Andrew Shaw who is undergoing further evaluation for an undisclosed injury. Kevin Lankinen was recalled from Rockford (AHL) on an emergency basis. To make room under the salary cap, defenseman Ian McCoshen was re-assigned in the process.
Keith (groin) and Dylan Strome (concussion protocal) remain out, but Strome did return to practice on Monday for the first time.
"We're going to be at 11 forwards tonight because of the (salary) cap," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "Obviously we needed to get Lankinen here as a goaltender."
"Guys get to play more. We haven't played since Saturday and we don't play again til Thursday," he continued. "Of course, there's guys missing that we'd love to have but it's no excuse."