PREVIEW: Blackhawks vs. Ducks - March 3, 2020
Chicago opens home-heavy March calendar with final meeting of the season vs. Anaheim
by Carter Baum @CarterBaum / Blackhawks.com
TIME: 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH RADIO: WGN Radio 720 STREAM: NHL.TV & MyTeamsApp
The Blackhawks return to the United Center to open a home-heavy March schedule on Tuesday night as the Anaheim Ducks come to town for the second time this season (TICKETS).
TEAM RECORDS
CHI: 29-28-8, 66 PTS
ANA: 26-31-8, 60 PTS
LAST TIME OUT
The Blackhawks wrapped a state sweep in Florida on Saturday evening with a 3-2 shootout win over the Panthers. Jonathan Toews and Drake Caggiula each scored, while Toews and Patrick Kane found twine in the shootout to seal the victory. Corey Crawford earned a second straight win, stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced and both Florida shootout attempts.
The Ducks saw a two-game winning streak snapped on Sunday at home, falling 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils. John Gibson made 31 saves in the loss.
Chicago is 2-0-0 against Anaheim this season and 4-1-0 in their last five meetings overall. The Blackhawks took a 3-2 overtime win in Southern California on Nov. 3 in Anaheim, where Adam Boqvist scored his first NHL goal and Kane netted the game-winner in the extra frame. On Jan. 11, Chicago took a 4-2 win at the United Center behind a two-goal night from Dominik Kubalik. Toews paces the Blackhawks with four points (1G, 3A) against Anaheim this season.
A year ago, Chicago posted its first regular-season series win against the Ducks since the 2015-16 campaign with a 2-0-1 record.
Video: ANA vs. CHI game preview
LINEUP NOTES
Corey Crawford will start in goal for a sixth straight game with the same 18 skaters from Chicago's last two wins in Florida. The Blackhawks did not take line rushes during morning skate, but here's the projected lineup based on Saturday's game:
Kubalik - Toews - Saad
Nylander - Strome - Kane
DeBrincat - Dach - Caggiula
Highmore - Kampf - Carpenter
Keith - Boqvist
Carlsson - Murphy
Maatta - Koekkoek
CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Toews scored his 50th career shootout goal on Saturday against Florida, the most shootout goals recorded by an NHL skater since the NHL introduced shootouts during the 2005-06 season. The Captain owns a career shootout mark of 49.5% (50-for-101). Kane is third all-time with 47 goals of his own in the skills session.
Toews skated in his 938th career NHL game Saturday, tying Doug Wilson for the eighth most games played in Blackhawks history.
Video: Colliton on Murphy, Ducks
HOME COOKING
Following an onslaught of road games in the month of February with 11 of their 14 games away from the United Center, Chicago settles in for 11 of their next 15 during the month of March at home.
The Blackhawks are tied with Calgary and Los Angeles for the fewest games played at home to date this season (30) and sit just behind each of those teams for the most road games played (CGY: 37, LA: 36 and CHI: 35). Chicago is one of eight teams that will wrap up their 2019-20 home schedule before the month's end.