Preview: Blackhawks at Hurricanes

BLACKHAWKS (23-10-5) at HURRICANES (15-12-7)
7:30 p.m. ET; FS-CR, WGN. NHL.TV

Blackhawks team scope

Artemi Panarin has a nine-game point streak for the Chicago Blackhawks, who are looking to sweep a back-to-back set after a 3-2 win at the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Panarin, who agreed to a two-year contract Thursday, has five goals and 10 assists in the longest point streak of his two seasons in the NHL. The Blackhawks ended a three-game losing streak Thursday and are 1-2-1 since running off five straight wins Dec. 11-18. "It was definitely important [to win]," captain Jonathan Toews told the Blackhawks website Thursday. "When you have a couple that maybe don't go your way, that you're close [to winning], and all of a sudden you're on the road against a couple tough teams … it's nice for us to get that one and kind of nip things in the bud, as far as our little skid right now." They did not have a morning skate. Backup goaltender Scott Darling is expected to start after Corey Crawford made 36 saves against the Predators.

Hurricanes team scope

The Carolina Hurricanes are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games but are coming off a 3-2 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. They're 10-3-1 at PNC Arena this season, including 9-0-1 in their past 10 home games. "I like the way we're playing," coach Bill Peters told the Hurricanes website Thursday. "We've had some good stretches throughout the year but we're consistently good right now and we're consistently playing to an identity that allows us to have success." Defenseman Ryan Murphy missed practice Thursday because of a cut that required stitches and will be a game-time decision after participating in the optional morning skate. "He took some stitches in a tough spot to heal up, to knit up," Peters said. Goaltender Cam Ward will make his 11th straight start for the Hurricanes, who will dress three former Blackhawks forwards: Teuvo Teravainen, Joakim Nordstrom and Viktor Stalberg.

Blackhawks projected lineup

Ryan Hartman -- Jonathan Toews -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Patrick Kane
Dennis Rasmussen -- Marcus Kruger -- Richard Panik
Tyler Motte -- Tanner Kero -- Jordin Tootoo
Duncan Keith -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Niklas Hjalmarsson -- Brent Seabrook
Michal Kempny -- Michal Rozsival
Scott Darling
Corey Crawford
Scratched:Brian Campbell, Gustav Forsling, Andrew Desjardins
Injured:Marian Hossa (upper body)

Hurricanes projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Victor Rask -- Derek Ryan
Brock McGinn -- Jordan Staal -- Elias Lindholm
Sebastian Aho -- Teuvo Teravainen -- Lee Stempniak
Joakim Nordstrom -- Jay McClement -- Viktor Stalberg
Jaccob Slavin -- Brett Pesce
Ryan Murphy -- Ron Hainsey
Noah Hanifin -- Matt Tennyson
Cam Ward
Eddie Lack
Scratched:Klas Dahlbeck, Andrej Nestrasil
Injured:Bryan Bickell (illness), Justin Faulk (lower body)

Status report

Hossa said he hopes to play in the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues at Busch Stadium on Monday. He did not travel with the Blackhawks to Nashville or Carolina. The Blackhawks are trying to figure out a rotation for their eight defensemen. Campbell and Forsling were scratched against the Predators in favor of Kempny and Rozsival, ending Campbell's streak of 423 consecutive games played. Campbell and/or Forsling could play Friday. … Dahlbeck, another former Blackhawk, will play if Murphy can't go. Faulk skated on his own Friday but won't make the trip for the Hurricanes' game at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Who's hot

Kane scored the game-winner against the Predators for his 700th NHL point; he has three goals and nine points in his past seven games. Keith needs two assists for 400 in the NHL. … Lindholm has one goal and two assists in the past two games.