Chicago Blackhawks: Red Wings won’t be an easy win

The Chicago Blackhawks return home for the first time in 2020. As the Red Wings are the worst team in the NHL in the standings, that doesn’t mean it’ll be an easy win for the Blackhawks.

The Chicago Blackhawks are bouncing back after a 7-5 loss against the Vancouver Canucks. That game was one of the most exciting games of the season. Any time there are 12 goals scored in a hockey game and it’s close, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Now, if your team is getting blown out, it keeps your thumb on the change channel button on your remote.

With the Detroit Red Wings being such a big rival of the Blackhawks, anytime these two teams meet, expect the unexpected. Since these teams only play twice a year now, they don’t know each other, as well as they, used to. That doesn’t take away the excitement from these games though. Us fans get fired up when we see the Red Wings on the schedule.

Now, the Blackhawks are starting a four-game home stand, with this one being the trap game. The team needs as many points as they can get, with it starting tonight. After losing to the Canucks, the Blackhawks fell back in the standings. They were four points away from the playoffs on Thursday, now they are six points out.

With them now going into game two of the second half of the season, points will fluctuate. Not every team is playing their 43rd game of the season tonight. The Blackhawks winning does help but it still has them a few games behind teams like the Predators, who sit two points ahead of the team.

So, every game that is “easy” becomes must win. The Blackhawks against the Red Wings will be another exciting matchup for the team. There’s a great reason to expect to hear the Chelsea Dagger a few times.

The only bad part is the knee injury Robin Lehner has suffered. Lehner won’t be playing against the Red Wings. Corey Crawford will get the start in-goal. He will get another chance to prove he still has it.

With the great memories of the last decade against this team involving Crawford, he should feel right at home against the Red Wings. The better Crawford plays, the better the team plays. So, if you’re Pro-Lehner or Pro-Crawford, root for both guys. Don’t be a fan that rolls their eyes when your favorite of the two isn’t starting. The better they both play, the more competitive the team becomes.

The game starts at 6:30 pm CST. The Blackhawks are favored to win by 1 1/2 goals (+115). The over/under is 6 1/2 goals (-110).