Winless Road Blackhawks Walk Into Tampa's Unbeaten Barn
Chicago has yet to win away from home; the Lightning have yet to lose at Amalie. Something gives Thursday night.
Written before the game
Something has to give at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay is a perfect 7-0-0 at home, and Chicago has yet to win on the road, going 0-6-1 away from the United Center.
The gap shows in the chances each side creates. Over the last ten games, the Lightning have averaged 3.82 expected goals a night (a measure of how many goals their chances were worth), while the Blackhawks have given up chances worth 3.92 goals a night over the same stretch. Tampa has also been out-attempting opponents most nights, while Chicago has been out-attempted.
For Chicago (4-11-1, 9 points, goal difference -27), the job is keeping the game close enough for its few sparks to matter. The power play has converted just four of 36 chances, so cleaner nights at even strength matter even more. The team sits 15th in the West and has lost two straight.
Tampa Bay (9-3-2, 20 points) holds the East's first wild-card spot at 6-2-2 in its last ten. The Lightning have been out-chancing teams; the task is finishing those looks before Chicago settles in.