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Friday night at 6 PM CST, the Chicago Blackhawks (5-1-2) take to the road to face-off against the Carolina Hurricanes (3-3-3) on Comcast Sports Net- Chicago. This is the only matchup between the two teams this season. Last season the teams also met only once in head-to-head competition, and the Blackhawks emerged with a 5-2 victory in that contest.
The Blackhawks have a big weekend ahead of them, with three games scheduled in the next four nights, and they have the opportunity against the Hurricanes to extend their impressive seven-game point streak. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes they are trying desperately to stay within striking distance of the red-hot Washington Capitals for the division race.
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville did say backup goalie Ray Emery would play at some point this weekend, but Corey Crawford will be in net for Friday's game against the Hurricanes. Also, look for the Blackhawks to have success in the power-play, as the Hurricanes rank in the lower half of the league in penalty killing efficiency. Here's a hint from Blackhawks.com on who to watch tonight:
Who's Hot: Marian Hossa has been as hot as any Hawk lately, tallying 7 points in his last six games. ... As for Carolina, reigning Calder Trophy-winner Jeff Skinner may be finding his form in the sophomore campaign. He has 4 points in his last two games.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Blackhawks be sure to visit Second City Hockey. Visit SB Nation NHL for more news and notes around the league.