Quick Hitter Preview: Blackhawks vs. Penguins

Last night, the Blackhawks fell to the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 6-3. The Hawks surrendered four goals before finding the back of the net and could not erase the deficit despite making it a one-goal game 6:08 into the third period. They are back in action tonight when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have just activated goalie Matt Murray off injured reserve. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM central time.

Three Things

• The Hawks made a couple of roster moves this morning. Artem Anisimov was placed on injured reserve (concussion protocol) and Alexandre Fortin was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs. Forward Dylan Sikura (FINALLY) and defenseman Carl Dahlstrom have been recalled from Rockford.
• Pittsburgh defeated the Islanders in a shootout on Monday night so they will be fresh while the Blackhawks are playing the second game of a back-to-back.
• The Hawks have now surrendered the first goal in 11 straight games.

Projected Lineups

Blackhawks

The Blackhawks did not have a morning skate, so no official projected lines are available. Instead, here is the lineup I would like to see tonight:

Saad – Toews – Sikura

DeBrincat – Strome – Kane

Kahun – Kampf – Hayden

Perlini – Kruger – Martinsen

Keith – Jokiharju

Seabrook – Manning

Murphy – Dahlstrom

*Gustafsson missed last night’s game with an illness, so I’m not sure if he’s good to go tonight.

Crawford

Ward

Penguins

Guentzel – Crosby – Kessel

Pearson – Malkin – Sheahan

Aston-Reese – Brassard – Rust

Wilson – Grant – Dea

Dumoulin – Letang

Maatta – Oleksiak

Pettersson – Johnson

DeSmith

Murray

Laugh It Off

If you don’t follow @DanyAllstar15 on Twitter, you’re missing out. He always provides ridiculous hockey takes with the most absurd wording. Here are his name suggestions for the Seattle expansion franchise.

Seattle name ideas:

Seattle drip drops
Seattle Battle
Seattle Beefmaster Cattle
Seattle skinny jeans
Seattle put your beanie on bro it’s cold out haha let’s go grab craft beers and be passive aggressive to the bartender because we’re in a band now

— Big Heatdaddy (@DanyAllstar15) December 12, 2018

Featured Photo: Getty Images