Blackhawks-Canucks Preview
The Chicago Blackhawks aren't happy with their performances on the road, but they're starting to pick up points.
Patrick Kane continues to pile them up practically everywhere.
Kane looks to extend the longest point streak of his career Saturday night when the Blackhawks face the struggling Vancouver Canucks.
Chicago is 8-2-1 at home compared to 3-5-1 on the road. However, the Blackhawks are 2-0-1 in their last three away from home after falling 2-1 in overtime at Calgary on Friday. They opened this six-game road trip - caused by the circus taking over the United Center - with a 4-3 OT win at Edmonton on Wednesday.
"On the road you gotta find ways to do things right. You gotta scrap," coach Joel Quenneville said Friday. "Games are tied late and you gotta get to overtime and see what happens.
"We were better than we were the other night, but that's still not good enough to get it done."
Kane has certainly been getting it done, leading the league with 13 goals and 31 points. His assist on Artem Anisimov's goal Friday extended his point streak to a personal-best 15 games.
The star winger looks to keep that going against the Canucks (7-7-6), and he's totaled 46 points in 47 career matchups, including the playoffs. However, he has just one point in his last four visits to Vancouver.
Chicago is 2-2-2 in its last six games there, and Corey Crawford has a 2.14 goals-against average while starting each of those. He should be back in net after backup Scott Darling made 35 saves against the Flames.
The Canucks concluded a 1-4-2 road trip with a 4-1 loss at Winnipeg on Wednesday, matching their season-high four-game skid.
Vancouver hosts Chicago and New Jersey on back-to-back nights this weekend before heading back on the road for four games.
"There's a lot of things to focus on. Just try to learn from our mistakes and take advantage of these home games," left wing Brandon Prust said. "We're not pressing the panic button but we definitely have a sense of urgency. Nobody is happy with that road trip.
"Everybody likes winning, but we need to start hating to lose."
Prust, who has five assists, is returning from an ankle injury that forced him to miss 11 games.
"I'm just gonna do what I normally do," Prust said. "Try to bring some energy. Let you're blood flow out there."
The Canucks may also have Radim Vrbata back after he missed one game with a groin injury. He led the team with 31 goals last season, but has just three in 2015-16 and none in his last nine games.
Daniel Sedin has team highs of seven goals and 18 points, but he's found the net twice with two assists in eight home games. He's been kept off the score sheet in three of the last four meetings with Chicago, scoring two goals in the other matchup over that stretch.