Blackhawks at Flames preview

BLACKHAWKS (17-17-6) at FLAMES (20-16-5)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSCH, NHL.TV

Chicago has won two in a row and is 4-1-0 in its past five games after one win in their previous six (1-4-1). The Blackhawks, who have won three in a row on the road, last won three consecutive games as part of a four-game winning streak Nov. 10-17.
Calgary is 2-4-1 in the past seven games after a season-long seven-game winning streak. The Flames are winless in their past four at home (0-3-1).

Players to watch

Chicago forward Patrick Kane has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in the past eight games, and was named to the Central Division All-Star Team on Monday.
Calgary forward Matthew Tkachuk has eight points (three goals, five assists) in the past five games, and was named to the Pacific Division All-Star Team on Monday.

They said it

"I think it's more just about not just closing this year off but getting ourselves off to a great start for the New Year. We're all pretty confident that we're heading in the right direction as a team. We've been playing pretty well in some tough buildings the last little while. We know this is going to be a tough challenge too and something we're ready for." -- Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews
"We know when we play to our process, our game style, we're good. The record is funny sometimes. The results aren't there when you play well and sometimes they are when you don't play well. We need to come out tonight flying and have a good one." -- Flames captain Mark Giordano

Blackhawks projected lineup

Dominik Kubalik -- Jonathan Toews -- John Quenneville
Dylan Sikura -- Ryan Carpenter -- Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat -- Kirby Dach -- Dylan Strome
Zack Smith -- David Kampf -- Matthew Highmore
Duncan Keith -- Adam Boqvist
Erik Gustafsson -- Connor Murphy
Olli Maatta -- Dennis Gilbert
Robin Lehner
Corey Crawford
Scratched: Alex Nylander, Slater Koekkoek
Injured: Drake Caggiula (concussion protocol), Calvin de Haan (right shoulder), Brandon Saad (right ankle), Brent Seabrook (right shoulder/left and right hip), Andrew Shaw (concussion protocol)

Flames projected lineup

Matthew Tkachuk -- Elias Lindholm -- Andrew Mangiapane
Sam Bennett -- Sean Monahan -- Mikael Backlund
Milan Lucic -- Derek Ryan -- Johnny Gaudreau
Zac Rinaldo -- Tobias Rieder -- Michael Frolik
Mark Giordano -- Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin -- Travis Hamonic
Oliver Kylington -- Michael Stone
David Rittich
Cam Talbot
Scratched: Dillon Dube, Mark Jankowski
Injured: TJ Brodie (illness)

Status report

Nylander will be a healthy scratch for the second time this season. … Brodie will be a game-time decision because of illness. … Bennett and Rinaldo will play after each was a healthy scratch in a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

Stat pack

Kane needs one goal to tie Denis Savard (377) for fourth in Blackhawks history. … Toews has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in his past 13 games. … Kubalik has five points (three goals, two assists) in the past five games. … Lindholm has eight points (two goals, six assists) in the past five games, and is three points from 300 in the NHL. … Hanifin is one assist from 100 in the NHL.