Blackhawks Gameday #32: Home for the Holidays

The Chicago Blackhawks (10-20-1) will take on the Montreal Canadiens (14-13-5) for the final time this season. Puck drop is 7:30pm.

Previously on Blackhawks Hockey:

Could it possibly have been their most impressive performance of the season? In what was a festive and loud atmosphere, the Blackhawks knocked off the Colorado Avalanche 3-2. A shorthanded team who lost Philipp Kurashev before the puck could even drop dug deep and came out victorious.

And now, a bit (more) on the Canadiens

It’s a different Habs team than they saw last time, 7-4-3 in their last 15 games and a spot where their first win in that run came after a four-game losing streak. Montreal is in the uber competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference but are still a game over .500. Last time, it was the Canadiens victorious 3-2 over Chicago back in October.

Make sure to check out Montreal Hockey Now which will have the opposing view tonight’s game. Also, a great read for hockey savants.

How to Watch and Listen

TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WGN 720

Miscellaneous Musings and Final Verdict

Another chance to get a coveted winning streak rolling, the Blackhawks have a home tilt with the Habs tonight before shipping off to St. Louis on the road tomorrow. A break in the holidays precedes the Hawks’ longest road trip of the season.

So a win here at home would be a nice way to kick off the official holiday weekend. The Blackhawks fortitude in the 3-2 win over Colorado was the right way to start things–especially since it was team on fumes from injury and other elements with Kevin Korchinski still being out after his father’s passing.

It will be Korchinski’s first game back, and both Kurashev and Jarred Tinordi will be back in the lineup. This is good news for a team that needs to get some kind of consistency going. Again, no one is expecting the playoffs or contention. But if there’s anything that Tuesday’s victory taught, it’s just how important that progress is for the pysche of not only the young team–but the fanbase. There will be an end to the constant losing if those little moments happen.

Tonight is one way to go.

Stats and Stuff

Team Goals, Assists, and Points Leader: Connor Bedard (12-16-28)
Blackhawks in their last ten games: 3-6-1
One Goal Games: 3 (3-1)