Game Notes: December 2009 Archives

* This will be the third meeting between the teams this season, with Chicago winning each of the first two meetings by a combined score of 11-5.

* Chicago is an NHL-best 16-3-1 at home this season. The Blackhawks have won 13 of their last 14 home games, including five in a row.

* The Sharks have won back-to-back games after dropping each of their previous five contests. 

* Joe Thornton has nine points (2g, 7a) during his current five-game point streak and leads the league in both assists (40) and points (49) overall this season.

* Chicago has posted three shutouts during its current four-game winning streak and leads the league with six shutouts overall on the season.

* Marian Hossa has been held without a point in each of his last two games after recording at least one in six of his previous seven games. Hossa has 12 goals and three assists in his last 10 games against the Sharks.

* These teams will be meeting for the first time this season. St. Louis won four of the six games between the clubs in 2008-09.

* St. Louis is 8-2-3 away from home this season and has won three in a row on the road. The Blues are just 2-4-2 against Eastern Conference foes this season compared to 12-8-3 against the West.

* The Blackhawks have won three of their last four games after dropped three of their previous four.

* Jonathan Toews has five goals in his last seven games and has scored six of his nine goals at home this season. Toews has five points (2g, 3a) in 13 career games against the Blues.

* David Backes has six goals and five assists in his last 10 games and has scored three goals in his last two contests. Backes has just three points (1g, 2a) in 16 career games against Chicago.

* The Blues have scored the fewest goals in the league with the man advantage this season (15).

* Chicago beat the Rangers, 2-1, on Wednesday - its second straight and third win in the last four games overall. The Blackhawks are 5-1-1 in their last seven road games.

* The Sabres shut out the Capitals, 3-0, on Wednesday, snapping their 2-game losing streak and winning for the fifth time in the seven games overall.
* Buffalo is 3-1-1 vs. Chicago in the two teams' last five games and hasn't allowed the Blackhawks to score a power-play goal in any of those contests (22 opportunities).
* Ryan Miller is 17-6-2 this season and has been in net for all of Buffalo's victories this season - the only netminder in the league that's recorded all of his team's 2009-10 victories.
* Marian Hossa had an assist on Wednesday and is now riding a personal 4-game point streak overall (1g, 4a during streak). Hossa has 26 points (15g, 11a) in 40 career games vs. the Sabres - most of any current Blackhawk skater.
* The Blackhawks have 21 different players with 1+ goal in 2090-10 - tied for most in the league.

* The Blackhawks have lost each of their last three games against the Rangers and will be seeking their first win over them since December 7, 2005.

* The Rangers have dropped four of their last five games. They are tied with Montreal and Vancouver for the second-most regulation losses in the NHL this season with 14.

* Chicago has lost three of its last five games after winning each of its previous eight contests.

* Marian Gaborik, who leads the league with 21 goals this season, has failed to light the lamp in four of his last five games. Gaborik has 11 points (8g, 3a) in his last seven trips to Chicago.

* Cristobal Huet has just one win in his last four starts with a 2.65 GAA and has just one win in six career starts against the Rangers.

* The Blackhawks are allowing the fewest shots on goal per game in the league this season (24.4).

* The Penguins have won four of their last five games against the Blackhawks dating back to the 2003-04 season. The last two meetings between these teams have resulted in a combined total of 17 goals.

* The Penguins have won five straight at home, outscoring their opponents 26-12 in those games.

* Sidney Crosby has scored nine goals in his last six games, and he has multiple goals in each of the last three games.

* Marc-Andre Fleury is 6-0-0 with a 1.82 GAA and .924 save percentage in his last six starts.

* The Predators dropped a 5-4 overtime decision in Minnesota on Wednesday and have now lost two straight and three of four games overall (1-2-1 record).
* Nashville is 0-for-14 with the man-advantage in its last four contests and its 16.3 percent success rate on the power-play in 2009-10 is second-worst in the Western Conference.
* The Blackhawks beat the Blue Jackets, 4-3, in a shootout on Tuesday and have now nine of 11 and taken at least one point in 11 of their last 12 games overall (9-1-2 record during streak).
* Chicago is 11-2-1 at the United Center this season - the best home record of any team in 2009-10. Including a 2-0 shutout earlier this season, the Blackhawks are 6-0-1 vs. the Preds at home the last seven times the two clubs have met in Chicago.
* Jason Arnott lit the lamp twice and had a helper in recording his first 3-point game of the season on Wednesday. Arnott leads the Preds with nine goals on the season - six of which have come in the last eight contests.
* The Blackhawks have gotten 73 combined points (15g, 58a) from their defensemen this season - tied with the Penguins for most in the league entering games this weekend.

* These teams split their six meetings last season, with each team winning twice on the road and once at home. Four of the six games were decided in either overtime or a shootout.

* The Blackhawks will be looking to avoid a third straight loss. However, they have won each of their last seven games in Chicago and are tied for the NHL lead with 10 home wins this season.

* The Blue Jackets will be looking to avoid a fifth-straight road loss.

* Marian Hossa has two goals in his three games since returning from shoulder surgery and will be making his home debut. Hossa has 15 points (11g, 4a) in 11 career games against Columbus.

* Cristobal Huet is 7-1-1 with a 1.85 GAA in his last nine starts. Huet has three wins and a 2.61 GAA in six career starts against the Blue Jackets.

* R.J. Umberger posted the second hat trick of his career against St. Louis yesterday and has five goals with three assists in his last six games. Umberger had two goals and four assists in six games against Chicago last season.