BLACKHAWKS (31-30-9) at CANADIENS (37-27-7) 7 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, TVAS, WGN, NHL.TV
Chicago, which had a seven-game winning streak from Jan. 20-Feb. 10, was 1-4-0 in the five games prior to its current streak. The Blackhawks are six points behind the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Carey Price will start in goal for Montreal, which is 2-4-0 in its past six games. The Canadiens are two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.
Players to watch
Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, who is third in the NHL with 99 points (41 goals, 58 assists), needs one point to become the third player in Chicago history to have multiple 100-point seasons along with Denis Savard (five times) and Jeremy Roenick (three times). Kane has at least one point in 32 of his past 36 games, recording 62 points (26 goals, 36 assists) over that span. Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past five games.
They said it
"It should be a tough game. They're a good team and they've played well all season and they have a lot of good players. So, we just have to go out and play our game. You know, we can beat anyone in this League, I think, if we play a good solid game and play a full 60 minutes." -- Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat "We're in a dogfight. I mean if you can't turn it on now you're in the wrong sport. You know, we'll have a good effort tonight and hopefully come out with two points." -- Canadiens defenseman Jordie Benn
Ward returns after missing the past four games because of a knee injury, though Crawford is expected to start in goal. … Koekkoek will play in place of Dahlstrom after being a healthy scratch for the past three games, and four of the past five. … The Canadiens had an optional morning skate and will use the same lineup for a third straight game.
Stat pack
Perlini has six points (four goals, two assists) in consecutive three-point games. … DeBrincat has 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in the past 12. … Drouin has no points in the past seven games, and 14 of his past 15.
