NBCSN’s coverage of the 2019-20 NHL season continues with the Wednesday Night Hockey matchup between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
This is the second and final meeting between these teams this season. In their first meeting in Boston on December 5, the Blackhawks won 4-3 in OT. Chicago led 3-0 before giving up three goals in the third period, but went on to win behind an overtime winner from captain Jonathan Toews.
Boston has won four straight games, outscoring their opponents 15-4. They are coming off a 4-0 win vs. Vancouver last night behind 25 saves from Tuukka Rask, who earned his third shutout of the season.
After beating Arizona in a shootout on Saturday in their first game back from the All-Star break, Chicago lost 3-2 in overtime at Minnesota last night. The Blackhawks scored twice in the 3rd period to come back from two goals down before losing in OT. The Hawks have just one regulation loss in their last eight games (6-1-1).
David Pastrnak is second in the league with 38 goals this season and third in the league with 75 points. This is Boston’s 55th game of the season (Pastrnak has played every game), and since 1998-99, only three players have reached 40 goals in their first 55 games (Alex Ovechkin: five times, Steven Stamkos: 2010-11, Pavel Bure: 1999-00).
Ovechkin reached 40 goals with a hat trick last night in his 53rd game of the season. Pastrnak had nine more goals than Ovechkin this season through Jan 12, but has since seen his lead slip away over the past few weeks.
This is Chicago’s first home game since the All-Star break, as 11 of their first 14 games following the break are on the road. After tonight’s game against the Bruins, Chicago has a five- game Western Canada road trip, facing all teams in the playoff race.
[COVERAGE BEGINS AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN]
WHAT: Boston Bruins at Chicago Blackhawks
WHERE: United Center
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
LIVE STREAM: You can watch the Bruins-Blackhawks stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BRUINS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Karson Kuhlman
Sean Kuraly - Charlie Coyle - Anders Bjork
Anton Blidh - Par Lindholm - Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - Jeremy Lauzon
Starting goalie: Jaroslav Halak
BLACKHAWKS
Dominik Kubalik - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane
Alex DeBrincat - Kirby Dach - Dylan Strome
Brandon Saad - David Kampf - Drake Caggiula
Alex Nylander - Ryan Carpenter - Zack Smith
Duncan Keith - Adam Boqvist
Erik Gustafsson - Connor Murphy
Olli Maatta - Slater Koekkoek
Starting goalie: Robin Lehner
Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher will call Blackhawks-Bruins game from United Center in Chicago, Ill. Liam McHugh anchors studio coverage with Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and NHL insider Bob McKenzie.