PREVIEW: Blackhawks Host Canucks

TIME: 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH | RADIO: WGN 720-AM | STREAM:
MyTeamsApp
(In Market) &
ESPN+
(Out of Market)
The Blackhawks continue their four-game homestand on Thursday night as the Vancouver Canucks visit the United Center with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m.

TEAM RECORDS

PREGAME LINKS
GAME COVERAGE
GAMECENTER: CHI vs. VAN
MEDICAL: Hardman Out with Head Laceration
ANALYSIS: Dominant Start Spoiled Late in Home Opener
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
APP: Download the Blackhawks App
ENTRY: Mobile Ticket Guide

PROJECTED LINEUP

Kevin Lankinen will start in goal tonight for the Blackhawks. Dylan Strome and Ryan Carpenter draw into the lineup against Vancouver in place of Philipp Kurashev (healthy scratch) and Mike Hardman (head contusion).
For Strome, it will be the first appearance of the seaosn, while Carpenter returns to the gameday group for the first time since the season opener in Colorado.
"The team focus tonight is on being hard to beat. We want to be solid away from the puck and really force them to earn what they get. That's what we need from all the guys who are playing," head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "I think he (Strome) is going to be good, I think Carpenter's going to provide energy as well and give us a spark. They're hungry to get in. We want to be a hard forechecking team and play in the offensive zone."

HOW TO WATCH

Can't make it to the United Center? Don't miss a minute of the action with Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk on NBC Sports Chicago. Andrew Shaw and Colby Cohen join Pat Boyle for pre and postgame coverage on NBC Sports Chicago live from the United Center beginning at 7 p.m.
Viewers in the Chicago area can stream the game on the
MyTeamsApp
, while those outside the viewing area can catch the action on
ESPN+
.
You can also listen to the game on WGN Radio with John Wiedeman and Paul Caponigri or in Spanish on TUDN Univision Sports Radio 1200 AM with Miguel Esparza and Jorge Moreno.

1KANE CELEBRATION

On March 9, 2020, Patrick Kane joined the illustrious 1,000 NHL Game club, but during a season without fans in attendance, he chose to postpone the celebration until his biggest supporters could be there in full voice at the United Center. Ahead of tonight's game against Vancouver, Kane will be honored in a pregame ceremony with a customary silver stick for his achievement.
He became the youngest player in franchise history (32 years, 110 days) to play in their 1000th game and was the 353rd player in league history and seventh Blackhawk to accomplish the feat.
The Buffalo, New York native also became the youngest U.S.-born player to score 400 goals and play in their 1000th career game last season. Mike Modano (32 years, 249 days) and Jeremy Roenick (32 days, 303 days) are the only other two players to achieve the feat prior to their 33rd birthday.

FLIP THE SCRIPT

Tonight's meeting is the first time Chicago and Vancouver have met since Feb. 12, 2020 in British Columbia. Now-Blackhawk Adam Gaudette scored that night as the Canucks shutout the visitors, 3-0. Chicago outshot Vancouver 49-20 that evening -- a season high for the team -- with Kane posting eight shots of his own.
The Blackhawks have secured at least a point in 11 of their last 12 games against the Canucks at the United Center (7-1-4). In Vancouver's victory on Jan. 2, 2020, Dominik Kubalik recorded his first career three-point game (3A). Dylan Strome's seven career points (1G, 6A) against the Canucks matches his second most against any team.

SPECIAL TEAMING UP

The Blackhawks are one of four teams who have not allowed a power-play tally this season. Of that group, they are the only team who has played more than three games and have been shorthanded the most (10) of the bunch.
Chicago has recorded a power-play marker in three of four games during the 2021-22 campaign and sit 10th in the league with a 28.6 percent power-play percentage. The Blackhawks finished 11th in the National Hockey League with a 21.7% PP% during the 2020-21 season. They share second in the league with four PPG's this year.

TALK ABOUT DACH

Third-year forward Kirby Dach extended his point streak (2G, 1A) to three games with a helper on Tuesday night against the Islanders. His career long is five games, which he accomplished twice during his rookie season. Dach netted a goal in consecutive games (Oct. 15 and 16) for the first time since his rookie season (Nov. 10 and Nov. 13, 2019).
The centerman has won 50 percent or more of his draws in three of four games during the 2021-22 campaign.