NASHVILLEJohn Scott will be in and Ray Emery will start in net when the Chicago Blackhawks play the Nashville Predators tonight at Bridgestone Arena.
The Blackhawks are back in the building where their eight-game winless streak began on Jan. 21. An ugly goal, a good first period, an early leadthe Blackhawks are looking for something, anything, to turn this skid around. And why not snap it where it started?
We could use all the terms that are necessary right now: we need one badly, coach Joel Quenneville said. We look back, it started right here before the break. We were going along pretty well there. We need more pace to our game. Thats the one thing thats not where it needs to be.
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Forward Jamal Mayers said we have to get grittier and dirtier. The reality is, its that fine balance between desperation and smart hockey. We have to find that balance.
Brendan Morrison will be a healthy scratch for the second time since the Blackhawks acquired him during the All-Star Break. Scott will be in, likely at forward, and Sami Lepisto will play in his third consecutive game.
As hard as the Blackhawks are working to change things around on the ice, theyre working hard to keep their chins up off it. Not easy, but players say they need to bolster each other.
You have to trick yourself that you feel great and that youre confident because everybody is going to need that from each other, Mayers said. This is a time when we can lean on each other and find small positives and grow form there.
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Getting a win wont hurt, either.
We need a little bit more swagger than we have nowand I dont even know if swaggers the word, Quenneville said. We need more excitement in our game and in each other.