The Chicago Blackhawks (5-5-3, 13 points, T-4th Central) have lost each of the last two and will be on the road Saturday with a visit to the Anaheim Ducks (4-9-1, 9 points, 7th Pacific), also losers of each of their last two. Chicago was defeated by the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in overtime on Thursday and Anaheim lost at home to the Minnesota 4-1 on Wednesday. Chicago will play without Tyler Johnson, Seth Jones and Alex Stalock, while Anaheim will play without Sam Carrick, Jamie Drysdale, John Moore and Urho Vaakanainen, while Adam Henrique and Derek Grant are questionable.
Chicago is weak on attack as the Blackhawks are scoring an average of only 2.69 goals per game. The Blackhawks are taking an average of 25.5 shots per game which is next to last in the NHL. Chicago's power-play scores 24.3% of the time which is 12th best. Jonathan Toews has 7 goals to lead Chicago, Jason Dickinson and two others have scored four goals apiece. The leader in assists is Patrick Kane with eight. Toews and Kane each have 10 points to lead Chicago. Chicago has scored 10 power-play goals in 13 games.
Chicago is allowing an average of 3.08 goals per game which is 15th in the NHL. The Blackhawks are allowing an average of 34.3 shots per game which is 27th and the penalty kill unit for Chicago is 27th, successfully holding opponents scoreless 71.4% of the time the Blackhawks are short-handed. No .1 goalie Alex Stalock is sidelined with a concussion and Petr Mrazek is filling in. The veteran is 1-1-1 with a 3.21 goals against average and .895 save percentage in four appearances. Also seeing action between the pipes is Arvid Soderblom, who is 1-2-1 with a 2.77 goals-against average in .924 save percentage.