Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche
The Blackhawks are just 3-2 since the Olympic break but they have played some excellent hockey; the team has outshot their opponents by 53 in those five games. That is absolute dominance. A big problem for them is that their power play is just 10.5-percent in those five games so the shooting percentage monster has been an issue for them. What has been a big help to them is their 94.7-percent penalty killing over the same stretch. Overall, this team has been very good for a while but just haven’t been getting the puck luck to put together a sustained winning streak.
Colorado is 5-2 since the break with their two losses coming to Los Angeles and St. Louis. It would seem to me they’re beating everyone they should beat and are struggling against the truly elite. They are averaging 3.6 goals per game in those seven games so the offense is rolling right now. One huge problem in those seven games has been the penalty kill that has been rolling along at a very poor 66.7-percent (six goals against in those seven games). Semyon Varlamov has been very good so far in March and he’ll need to be great tonight.
These two teams met in Chicago a little over a week ago and despite being outshot 38-21, the Avalanche won 4-2. Colorado has taken three games from the Hawks already this year but has been outshot by an average of 18 in the four games this year. Teams can only give up so many shots so often without getting buried (pun!). With injuries to P.A. Parenteau and Paul Stastny, this Colorado team is missing some top end talent. I think Chicago fills the net tonight and may even use Corey Crawford in some 50/50s.
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Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
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(CHI) $13,979 |
(CHI) $8934 |
(CHI) $14,970 |
Andre Benoit |
(CHI) $7319 |
