Chicago Blackhawks to end three game skid against poor Toronto Maple Leafs - NHL Preview
Two teams who are not having the best results recently face each other on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012, at the United Center as both Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks look to end their respective losing runs.
The Maple Leafs form has dipped considerably in recent times and the poor results have seen them drop out of the playoff spots down to tenth in the Eastern Conference with 65 points.
Toronto has won just a single game, a 4-3 overtime win over Edmonton Oilers, over their past ten games.
They have a chance to end a five game losing streak when they face an equally struggling Chicago Blackhawks side on the road and get their playoff challenge back on track.
Chicago on the other hand is facing the same issues.
The Blackhawks looked to have gotten over their problems when they ended a nine-game losing run and won the next four encounters. However, that was not the case as Chicago once again put in some poor performances and are currently on a three game skid.
Chicago has allowed the opposition a total of 10 goals in their last three games and their poor form has seen them drop down to seventh in the Western Conference with 73 points.
Just three points separate the Blackhawks from being out of a playoff spot and they will look to change their fortunes against Toronto.
Maple Leafs (29-27-7, 65pts)
Toronto’s poor run keeps getting worse with every game.
The Leafs lost their fifth straight game in a row on Tuesday, against Florida Panthers after allowing two goals in the first period.
The Panthers never looked back and pummelled Toronto into submission with the Leafs three goals on the power play keeping the score-line look respectable.
Another such poor display against the Blackhawks and Toronto could kiss its playoff hopes goodbye for the season.
Coach Ron Wilson said after the game.
"You do get exasperated and you get frustrated. But tomorrow's a new day, the sun will probably come up and we've got to pull up our bootstraps and get going."
Blackhawks (33-24-7, 73 pts)
Chicago looked to have found a solution to its woes after ending a nine-game skid with a four game winning run.
However, once again the Blackhawks seem to be on the verge of another long losing run after being comprehensively beaten in all of their last three games.
The defeats have put the Blackhawks very close to dropping out of the playoff spots altogether but they have their best chance yet of putting things right against the Maple Leafs.
Predictions
Chicago Blackhawks will end their losing run against Toronto.
It will be a low-scoring game due to both offences struggles.
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