The Need to Knows
- The Time: 7:00pm PT
- The Place: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
- Place to Watch: TNT, Max
- Place to Listen: KJR 93.3 FM
- An Opposing Viewpoint: Second City Hockey
Know Your Enemy
If, somehow, you missed the blaring headlines, Chicago has been and will continue to be without their star Connor Bedard after the 2024 first overall pick and rookie points leader (33 in 39 games players) sustained a jaw fracture earlier this month. Since that point, the Blackhawks have only won three times.
Thirty-first in the league, tied with the San Jose Sharks for the fewest points overall, and struggling through an intentional rebuild, it’s no surprise a poor record is the case– what little the Blackhawks had going for them on-ice came from the 18-year-old phenom. Without him, there’s not much of a team to deploy.
Chicago ranks 31st in almost every major offensive and defensive category at five-on-five, including but not limited to: goals share, shot quality share, shot attempts share, goals against, goal differential, goals for per game, etc. etc. They’re also currently missing Taylor Hall, Andreas Anthanasiou, Tyler Johnson, Nikita Zaitsev, and Anthony Beauvillier.
It’s easy to make jokes about the Blackhawks– especially because the last time these two teams met, the Kraken delivered their Western conference foe a crushing 7-1 defeat– but no opponent can be underestimated in this league, not even Chicago.
As it turns out, the Blackhawks are among the most physical and sacrificially willing in the NHL, ranking fourth in total hits given (844) and fifth in total shots blocked (719)– although their defensive heat map wouldn’t indicate it, they can clog lanes and battle for possession with fervor. Their 357 takeaways rank first. And, they’ve skated a distance greater than 96% of the league.
Chicago’s got guts. Fresh off a shutout loss to the Vancouver Canucks and riding a 17-game losing skid on the road, they’ll be even hungrier for success tonight– especially against a similarly down-on-their-luck Seattle team, winless in their own right.
Game Preview
Despite being traded 675 days ago, ex-Kraken Colin Blackwell will return to Climate Pledge Arena for the first time as an opponent, as well as Jaycob Megna, waived by Seattle on Jan 2 and claimed by Chicago the next day. Both can be expected to play for the Blackhawks.
As for who can be expected for Seattle’s lineup? At least a couple of new (but familiar) faces.
Data courtesy of HockeyViz, MoneyPuck, NHL Edge.