Just like the Wild, the Blackhawks are on the tail end of back-to-back games. However, the Chicago squad fared better in its first outing than the Wild, dominating the Ottawa Senators 8-2 on Tuesday night. En route to the victory, Patrick Kane scored a career-high five points, while Nick Schmaltz added three points, including two goals. Captain Jonathan Toews also scored two goals in the rout.
Brent Seabrook was a healthy scratch on Tuesday, though the defense combined for seven points without him. The alternate captain has won three Stanley Cups, all with Chicago, and is in the second year of an eight-year contract.
With Corey Crawford injured and Anton Forsberg taking the reins in Ottawa, goaltender Jeff Glass will likely get the start against Minnesota. Glass is 2-1-1 in four career NHL starts with a .908 save percentage and a goals-against average of 3.51.
The Wild and Blackhawks have already met three times in the 2017-18 season, with the Wild winning 5-2 Oct. 12 in Chicago and falling in the latter two games, 2-0 and 4-1 on Nov. 4 and Dec. 17. Devan Dubnyk, who will start for the Wild, played in the first two matchups. Chris Stewart leads the Wild with two goals against Chicago this season.
Following Tuesday's win, the Blackhawks leap-frogged over the Wild and the idle Avalanche from last place into fifth in the Central Divison.
