Kings @ Blackhawks 12/28/11 Preview

The National Hockey League leading Chicago Blackhawks (23-9-4) will take on the Los Angeles Kings (17-14-5) at United Center on Wednesday night.  This will be the  2^nd of four meetings with the Kings this season and the first on home ice.  Chicago beat the Kings 2-1 in November during the Circus Trip at Staples Center.  Jonathan Toews and Andrew Brunette scored for Chicago while Jarret Stoll had the only Kings goal.  Corey Crawford stopped 26 of 27 shots to earn the victory.  Crawford will get the nod for the third straight game on Wednesday night.  Marian Hossa leads the Hawks in scoring with 40 points and Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp lead Chicago in goals with 20 and 19 each.  For the Kings, Anze Kopitar leads the team in scoring with 34 points.  Off season acquisition Mike Richards has a team high 13 goals.  Chicago won both meetings with the Kings at United Center last season and were 4-0-0 overall in the season series.  The Hawks come in winners of two in a row and 8 of 10.  The Kings are 4-5-1 in their last 10.  Patrick Kane (flu), Marcus Kruger (upper body), and Steve Montador  all missed practice on Tuesday.  Coach Quenneville was non-committal as to if Kane and Kruger will be available Wednesday night.  Montador was called a maintenance day and should play Wednesday night.  One would have to think Kane will go but Kruger is a big question mark absorbing multiple big hits on Monday night coming back from a concussion last week.    

Update:  In Wednesday's morning skate Patrick Kane and Dan Carcillo were on the ice but Marcus Kruger and Steve Montador were not. 

Update 2:  Per Coach Q Marcus Kruger and Dan Carcillo are out Wednesday night.  Steve Montador will play despite not skating Wednesday morning.  The Hawks are targeting Friday night for Carcillo to make his return to the lineup.