Music: {allcanada} JETS (23-14-8) AT BLACKHAWKS (28-13-2)

Thursday, January 15, 2015

{allcanada} JETS (23-14-8) AT BLACKHAWKS (28-13-2)

Friday, January 16, 2015

8:30 PM ET

JETS (23-14-8) AT BLACKHAWKS (28-13-2)

TV: TSN3, CSN-CH

Season series: The Winnipeg Jets have caught the attention of the Chicago Blackhawks by winning twice in as many trips to United Center. Former Blackhawks Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Michael Frolik have spearheaded the effort in the two games along with goalie Michael Hutchinson, who started both. He is 2-0-0 with a 0.50 goals-against average and .986 save percentage (71 saves on 72 shots) against Chicago.

Jets team scope: Winnipeg continues to make noise within the Central Division. The Jets held off the Dallas Stars 2-1 at American Airlines Center on Thursday to further strengthen their hold on the first Western Conference wild-card berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They are fourth in the Central Division with 54 points, nine ahead of the Stars and four behind the St. Louis Blues and Blackhawks (58). Winnipeg can thank goalie Ondrej Pavelec for the win in Dallas; he made 46 saves and nearly had a shutout before allowing a goal by Stars defenseman Trevor Daley with 1:16 left in regulation. Dallas outshot Winnipeg 47-22, including 22-6 in the second period, but the Jets killed all seven Stars power plays. Frolik's ninth goal opened the scoring 3:53 into the game and Evander Kane's ninth goal, at 7:34 of the third, decided it. Hutchinson will start for a third time against Chicago.

Blackhawks team scope: Chicago hasn't played since a 4-1 home victory against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday and should be well-rested. After two days without practice, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is pleased with the rejuvenated energy level he saw in back-to-back practices Wednesday and Thursday. "We had two real good practices here and now they want to play," Quenneville said. "They're excited about going into the game. We've got a team that had some success against us here twice already, earlier on, and we can't let that happen [again]." Quenneville has changed his power-play units. Center Andrew Shaw was replaced by left wing Patrick Sharp in front of the net on the top unit. Defenseman David Rundblad is the new left point for the second group. Goalie Corey Crawford will start.

Team Stats