GAME DAY | Blackhawks – Canadiens: Preview, Lines, Goalies, TV, Fantasy

• Blackhawks senior director of amateur scouting, Mark Kelley on the emergence of Artemi Panarin as a Calder Cup candidate: “The chemistry between [Artemi] Panarin, [Patrick] Kane and [Artem] Anisimov is off the charts, that line was put together in training camp and here it is still. [Blackhawks coach] Joel Quenneville is known for fixing lines but the chemistry on this line has been dynamite.”
• Andrei Markov: “It’s never easy if you see the team is [struggling], but all we can do [is] work hard, have a good attitude, a good work ethic and keep working. That’s the only way we can get back.”
• Head coach Joel Quenneville was rewarded with a three year contract extension on Tuesday. Since taking over the Blackhawks, he has compiled a 343-168-69 record and his contract will now be up for renewal at the end of the 2019-2020 season.
• Alex Galchenyuk on a recent off-ice incident involving his girlfriend, in which a guest called the police: “I feel bad that the incident was made public. I feel bad for my teammates, for the organization and for the fans. At the same time, I’m a hockey player. It’s a lesson in life, of course it was a distraction. I’m sorry for this. I feel bad for it. For me, personally, I can’t wait to move on from it.”
• P. K. Subban finally broke out of a 33 game goalless drought against the Penguins on Saturday. Over this span he had a total of 97 shots and 16 assists.
• While the Canadiens have a 4-9-0 record versus teams in the Western Conference this season, the Blackhawks’ boast a 10-6-1 record against teams from the East.
• The Canadiens have maintain their placing in the goals against category, they are currently in 9th in the league in goals against, with 107 in 43 games. The Blackhawks have allowed just a single goal less (in two more games) and find themselves in 8th in the league.
• The Canadiens have surprisingly maintained their standing in the goals for category as they are currently in seventh place in the NHL, with 122 over their first 43 games. Unsurprisingly, the Blackhawks are 3rd in this category with 129 goals scored in 45 games.

2015-16 statistics

• I’m not going to recommend you bet on Mike Condon in this matchup. Although he has won three of his last four games, the rookie goaltender is facing a very potent offense in the Blackhawks. The ‘Hawks have also won eight straight games, while the Canadiens have struggled of late. Hopefully the Canadiens have used their four days off to regroup and are able to put forth a strong performance against the Blackhawks. I recommend sitting Condon for this game and looking elsewhere for a goalie start.
• Top scorers for the Blackhawks on the road this season are:

1. Patrick Kane (with 28 points in 20 games).
2. Artemi Panarin (with 19 points in 20 games)
3. Duncan Keith (with 17 points in 17 games)

• Top scorers for the Canadiens at home this season are:

1. Tomas Plekanec  (with 16 points in 21 games)
2. Max Pacioretty and  (with 15 points in 21 games)
3. P. K. Subban (with 13 points in 21 games)

Player stats from War-on-Ice, NHL.com and Yahoo Sports.

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