> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Maple Leafs game preview: Leafs face the flailing Blackhawks - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-game-preview-chicago-blackhawks-wednesday-nhl/ - Published: 2018-01-24T16:05:02.000Z - Updated: 2018-01-24T16:05:02.000Z - Description: The Hawks are having a bad year, can the Leafs take advantage tonight? - Author: Species - Tags: Game Coverage, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:15 ### Maple Leafs vs Blackhawks: Game # 50 ### Time: 8:00PM EDT ### Location: United Centre, Chicago ### Broadcast/Streaming: Sportsnet *(national game)* ### Opponent SBNation Site: [Second City Hockey](https://www.secondcityhockey.com/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Maple Leafs are taking a quick spin through the NHL Central Division this week before the start of the NHL ALL-Star Game break later this week. First up today are the Chicago Blackhawks. Tomorrow they will face the Dallas Stars. The Leafs their first match against the Blackhawks this season was way back in October. They won 4-3 in overtime on a goal by Auston Matthews, and it was a very Auston Matthews goal. Will the Hawks yield the game to the Leafs again tonight? First, lets look at the projected lineups. The Leafs made a few roster changes yesterday, and shuffled some players around at practice. --- #### Related [Kasperi Kapenen is up and Frederik Gauthier is down](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-kasperi-kapenen-is-up-and-frederik-gauthier-is-down/) --- ### Toronto Maple Leafs (from practice yesterday) Forward Lines Zach Hyman - Auston Matthews - William Nylander Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - Mitch Marner James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Connor Brown Leo Komarov - Dominic Moore - Kasperi Kapanen Scratched: Josh Leivo, Matt Martin Defence Pairings Jake Gardiner - Ron Hainsey Travis Dermott - Connor Carrick Andreas Borgman - Roman Polak Injured: Morgan Rielly Scratched: Rinat Valiev Goaltenders Starting:Frederik Andersen Backup: Curtis McElhinney ### Chicago Blackhawks (recent game) Forward Lines Brandon Saad - Jonathan Toews - Anthony Duclair Patrick Sharp - Nick Schmaltz - Patrick Kane Alex DeBrincat - Artem Anisimov - Ryan Hartman Tomas Jurco - David Kampf - Vinnie Hinostroza Defence Pairings Duncan Keith - Jordan Oesterle Erik Gustaffson - Brent Seabrook Michal Kempny - Connor Murphy Goaltenders Jeff Glass Anton Forsberg The Blackhawks starting goalie Corey Crawford is still out with a head injury, though he is expected to start practising again soon. Journeyman Jeff Glass was called up from the AHL for the first time ever at 32 years-old. > Blackhawks’ expected started tonight is 32 year old rookie Jeff Glass. Glass played 2 games for the Marlies last season and even attended Leaf training camp in Halifax. > His hockey oddessy has included 12 pro teams in 13 seasons in 4 different leagues. [#tmltalk](https://twitter.com/hashtag/tmltalk?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) [January 24, 2018](https://twitter.com/HennyTweets/status/956170183822979072?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Blackhawks are not having a great season. As of last night they sit at 12th place in the Western Conference. They are coming in to tonight’s game after losing their past three games. That only explains a part of the problem faced by the Hawks. They are scoring goals. Unique for a team so low in the standings is that they still have a positive goal differential of +7\. Per Natural Stat Trick, their CF% is second in the league at 53.54%, behind only the Hurricanes who have a very slightly higher rate. The drop off in SV% from Crawford to Glass, compounded with a team of slowly but steadily declining stars like Jonathan Toews is an explanation for the recent slide. You have to wonder if they team is in need of a total blow up, but they have managed their way through a mess like this before, and come back to win the Stanley Cup. The projected fat rise in the salary cap could help them resolve some contract issues and do it all over again. Still, questions are starting to be asked about whether immediate changes are needed. --- #### Related [Blackhawks rumors 2018: Joel Quenneville ‘could be in trouble’ in Chicago?](https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2018/1/23/16924490/blackhawks-rumors-2018-joel-quenneville-firing-coach?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) --- The Hawks recently picked up Anthony Duclair from the Arizona Coyotes. [He wanted out of Arizona because who wouldn’t](https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2018/1/12/16884822/anthony-duclair-trade-blackhawks-coyotes-request-nhl-2018?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)? He could be a physical presence tonight and it will be interesting to see who he chases around if he is indeed again on their top line. Perhaps he can be a foil to Zach Hyman? Perhaps he is their Zach Hyman? These teams don’t meet very often, so it’s hard to peg what dynamic will be at work. There isn’t a ‘rivalry’ here per se, but both badly want the points — the Leafs to bank them to survive greater challenges to come after the All-Star break, and the Hawks simply to stay in the race and make the last wild card playoff slot. GO LEAFS GO!