About the Blackhawks - 12-20-11

A preview of the Blackhawks.

When and where: 7:30 p.m., EST, Consol Energy Center.

TV: Versus, TSN2.

Record: 21-8-4, 46 points. The Blackhawks are in first place of the Western Conference and Central Division.

Leading Scorer: Marian Hossa (right), 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists).

Last Game: 4-2 home win against the Flames, Sunday. Hossa had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks.

Last Game against the Blackhawks: 3-2 home shootout win, Feb. 20. Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves for the Penguins.

Blackhawks Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Patrick Sharp. He enters the game on a nine-game scoring streak.

Ex-Penguins on the Blackhawks: Marc Bergevin, assistant general manager; Bob Berry, professional scout; Dennis Bonvie, professional scout; Scotty Bowman, senior advisor - hockey operations; Daniel Carcillo (Carcillo was a prospect with the Penguins but never played for the organization at the NHL level); Marian Hossa, RW; Norm Maciver, player personnel

Ex-Blackhawks on the Penguins: Craig Adams, RW; Tom Fitzgerald, assistant to the general manager; Gilles Meloche, goaltending coach; Steve Sullivan, LW; Jason Williams, LW.

Useless Blackhawks Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins Pirates: The only defunct NHL franchise the Blackhawks have a losing record against is the Pittsburgh Pirates NHL franchise which existed from 1926 until 1930. In 12 games against the Pirates, the Black Hawks were 5-6-1.

Best Blackhawks Video We Could Find: The national anthem prior to the 1991 All-Star Game in Chicago Stadium:

{youtube width="465" height="345"}tvpxVE_kQXg{/youtube}

Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (16-7-2, 2.31 GAA, .914 SV%) for the Penguins and Ray Emery (9-1-2, 2.50 GAA, .909 SV%) for the Blackhawks.

Injuries: For the Penguins, centers Jordan Staal ("lower body") is probable. Right winger Craig Adams ("lower body") and defenseman Paul Martin ("lower body") are questionable. Defensemen Robert Bortuzzo (head), Kris Letang (head), Ben Lovejoy (left wrist), Zbynek Michalek (head), centers Sidney Crosby (head), Dustin Jeffrey (knee) and right winger Richard Park (foot) are on injured reserve. For the Blackhawks, defenseman Brent Seabrook ("upper body") is probable. Left winger Daniel Carcillo ("upper body") is day to day.

Potential lines and defensive pairings: The Penguins' did not skate with a full crew this morning. Consider this an absolute guess at their lines and defensive pairings:

The Blackhawks' primary lines and defensive pairings against Flames Sunday were:

Jeremy Morin - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp - Marcus Kruger - Marian Hossa
Michal Frolik - Dave Bolland - Bryan Bickell
Andrew Brunette - Jamal Mayers - Viktor Stalberg

Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook
Nick Leddy - Niklas Hjalmarsson
John Scott - Steve Montador

Notes:

-Welcome back Staal and Adams? (PG+)

-Sullivan has 699 career points.

-Niskanen has 98 career points.

-Picard has 49 career assists.

-Martin has 197 career points.

-Seabrook is expected to play despite being injured on a hit from behind by Calgary's Rene Bourque Sunday.

-Our live blog begins at approximately 6:30 p.m. Please tune in.

(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)