Three things to watch in Chicago Blackhawks vs Wild this weekend

The Chicago Blackhawks begin a home and home back-to-back series with the Minnesota Wild on Friday and wrapping up on Saturday.

Tale of the Tape

Power-play:

CHI: 18.8% (18th)

MIN: 17.0% (24th)

Penalty Kill:

CHI: 76.3% (26th)

MIN: 79.8% (16th)

Faceoffs:

CHI: 49.2% (20th)

MIN: 48.3% (23rd)

Goals per game:

CHI: 2.36 (29th)

MIN: 3.66 (3rd)

Goals against per game:

CHI: 3.21 (22nd)

MIN: 3.03 (19th)

Top scorers:

CHI: Patrick Kane – 9 goals, 26 assists, 35 points

MIN: Kirill Kaprizov – 16 goals, 28 assists, 44 points

Here are three things to keep an eye on in the Chicago Blackhawks versus Minnesota Wild game this weekend:

1. Response to a disappointing loss in Seattle

The Blackhawks saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on Monday, while Seattle snapped their nine-game losing streak in the team’s 3-2 shootout victory.

Originally planned to play a back-to-back with Edmonton the following night, the second leg was postponed. Hence, Chicago has been idle and left with the feeling of that shootout loss to a bad Seattle team.

“We were sloppy,” interim coach Derek King said via the Chicago Suntimes. “We had moments where we looked good, but then there were moments where we were tired. The travel was a little bit crazy for us. We’ll have to get these guys plenty of rest.”

The Blackhawks should have plenty of rest to gear up for a really talented Minnesota Wild group, one that has outscored their opponents 60-40 in the opening period, including 28-22 on the road.

2. Seth Jones is back for the Blackhawks

The Hawks will be getting a key member back into their lineup on Friday, as defenseman Seth Jones was removed from COVID protocol on Tuesday. The 27-year-old missed four games with the virus.

Chicago appeared to get by without Jones in the first three games, but they sorely missed his presence against Seattle.

The former Columbus Blue Jacket is just three points shy of matching last year’s point total (28), although he hasn’t put up monster numbers against Minnesota over his career. In 19 games, Jones has two goals and seven points with a -2 against the Wild.

3. Facing Kirill Kaprizov for the first time

It’s hard to imagine that this is the first time the Blackhawks will see their division rivals and Kirill Kaprizov this season. With the re-aligned divisions last year, Chicago was fortunate to miss out on being on a highlight reel during Kaprizov’s Calder Trophy-winning season.

Behind 27 goals and 51 points, the Russian forward took home 99 first-place votes for the award. There was some speculation about whether he would return to the Wild this year with a reportedly handsome offer in hand from the KHL.

However, Kaprizov is back in Minnesota this season and looks poised to shatter last year’s point total. Through 34 games, he has 16 goals and 28 points, pacing all Wild skaters with 44 points. Kaprizov was electric on the power-play last season, tallying eight goals.

While he only has two goals on the man advantage this season, he’s been dynamite in 5-on-5 situations.

Kaprizov has two games under his belt since returning from the injured reserve with a lower-body injury. All he’s done is put up four points in those two games.

He will be a significant threat for the Blackhawks to contain not only on Friday but in Minnesota on Saturday.

The Blackhawks and Wild get underway from the United Center at 7:30 pm CT on Friday.