Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks: Game Preview, Notes, Rosters, Statistics, How to Watch

Carolina Hurricanes (17-14-7) at Chicago Blackhawks (24-12-5)
January 6, 2017 - 8:30 p.m. ET
United Center - Chicago, IL
Fox Sports Carolinas, 99.9 The Fan, WRAL SportsFan web and app
SB Nation Rival Blog: Second City Hockey

Game Notes:

• Justin Faulk returned to the Hurricanes lineup last night after missing multiple games with a lower body injury. In his return, the defenseman registered three shots and quarterbacked the power play unit which looked dangerous once again.
• Ty Rattie made his debut as a Hurricane last night after being claimed off of the waivers from the St. Louis Blues. Rattie registered nearly thirteen minutes of ice time on a line with Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner. Rattie didn’t get many opportunities with the Blues but it is clear, at least from first glance, that he will have those opportunities with Carolina.
• With an assist on Derek Ryan’s empty-net goal to seal the game, Jordan Staal now has 100 career assists with the Hurricanes and 229 total NHL assists.
• This game marks the end of the eighth back to back series for the Canes this season. The Canes have a 5-2-0 record in games that are on the back half of back-to-back series.
• The Hurricanes have won three straight games against the Blackhawks dating back to last season. The Canes now have a 5-3-1 record in their last nine games against Chicago earning 11 total points in those games.
• Both goalies have a good track record against Chicago. Cam Ward has a 4-1-2 record with a 1.76 GAA and two shutouts. Michael Leighton is 1-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA in his one game against tonight’s foes.
• A win by the Canes could move them into ninth place in the East, just two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card position. The Canes enter tonight's game with two games in hand over the Flyers.
• The Blackhawks came back from deficits three separate times last night in their overtime win over the Sabres. Artem Anisimov scored a tying goal with 2:04 to play, and Patrick Kane won the game for Chicago with a goal :56 into the extra session.
• These two teams are meeting for the second time in exactly a week. The Canes downed the Blackhawks 3-2 last Friday at PNC behind a 27-save effort from Cam Ward and goals from Elias Lindholm, Jay McClement and former Hawk Teuvo Teravainen.

Lines and Rosters

Both teams played last night, so neither will have a morning skate. Ryan Murphy only took three shifts in the third period last night, none after the midway point, and that’s usually a pretty clear indication that Bill Peters is unimpressed with his play. It would not be at all surprising if Peters opts to insert Matt Tennyson back into the lineup tonight.

For the Hawks, Scott Darling will likely get the nod in goal, after a strong performance against the Canes last week and backing up Corey Crawford last night.

Here’s how they lined up last night:

Hurricanes

Jeff Skinner - Victor Rask - Ty Rattie
Brock McGinn - Jordan Staal - Derek Ryan
Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen - Lee Stempniak
Joakim Nordstrom - Jay McClement - Viktor Stalberg

Jaccob Slavin - Brett Pesce
Justin Faulk - Ron Hainsey
Noah Hanifin - Ryan Murphy (?)

Cam Ward
Michael Leighton

Injuries and Scratches: Bryan Bickell (IR multiple sclerosis), Elias Lindholm (IR upper-body), Eddie Lack (IR concussion), Andrej Nestrasil (healthy), Klas Dahlbeck (healthy), Matt Tennyson (healthy)

———

Blackhawks

Artemi Panarin - Artem Anisimov - Patrick Kane
Spencer Abbott - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa
Ryan Hartman - Tanner Kero - Richard Panik
Andrew Desjardins - Dennis Rasmussen - Vinnie Hinostroza

Duncan Keith - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Michal Kempny - Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling - Niklas Hjalmarsson

Scott Darling
Corey Crawford

Injuries and Scratches: Marcus Kruger (IR upper-body), Ryan Hartman (healthy), Michal Rozsival (healthy), Brian Campbell (healthy)