NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with Friday night’s matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
Improvement has been there, but there’s plenty of work to do for new Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton. Since the 0-6-2 slump that led to Joel Quenneville’s firing, Chicago is 2-3-2 under the new bench boss, which has featured the team’s top line providing a big offensive push.
In Colliton’s seven games behind the bench, Brandon Saad, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have scored six goals and recorded 16 points. The rest of the Blackhakws have totaled six goals and 20 points.
“If we play them together, they’ve got to produce. But sometimes when you spread them out, no one produces,” Colliton explained about putting the three together. “By loading them up, it puts some pressure on them. But hopefully they play so well, it doesn’t matter who has the puck — they’re making plays, they break through anyway, no matter who they’re playing against. That’s what we ask of them, and so far they’re coming through for us.”
The Lightning beat the Florida Panthers Wednesday to move to within two points of the top spot in the NHL. The dynamic offense scored seven goals for the third time this season, keeping them atop the league with a 3.73 goals per game average.
Goaltender Louis Domingue has made five starts since Andrei Vasilevskiy broke his foot last week. Tampa has won three of those games with the netminder posting a .939 even strength save percentage.
“He’s winning hockey games for us,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper. "[H]e’s given us a chance to win games and he’s played well.” [WATCH LIVE – 6:30 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning Where: Amalie Arena When: Friday, November 23rd, 6:30 p.m. ET TV: NBCSN Live stream: You can watch the Blackhawks-Lightning stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BLACKHAWKS Brandon Saad - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane Nick Schmaltz - Artem Anisimov - Alex Debrincat Alexandre Fortin - David Kampf - Dominik Kahun Chris Kunitz - Luke Johnson - Marcus Kruger
Duncan Keith - Gustav Forsling Erik Gustafsson - Brent Seabrook Brandon Manning - Jan Rutta
Starting goalie: Corey Crawford
LIGHTNING Yanni Gourde - Steven Stamkos - J.T. Miller Tyler Johnson - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - Mathieu Joseph Adam Erne - Cedric Paquette - Ryan Callahan
Victor Hedman - Dan Girardi Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak Braydon Coburn - Mikhail Sergachev
Starting goalie: Louis Domingue
Rick Peckham (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Blackhawks-Lightning from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.