Can the Blackhawks Ride Their Offensive Surge Against the Senators?

As the Chicago Blackhawks prepare to host the Ottawa Senators at United Center, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Blackhawks' recent performance has been a rollercoaster, but there's reason to believe they could harness their offensive prowess for their upcoming clash.

In their last game against the St. Louis Blues on December 24th, despite a loss, Chicago put up an impressive five goals. They demonstrated an ability to penetrate defenses with a shooting percentage of 25 percent and racked up 33 hits. However, this offensive surge was overshadowed by defensive lapses that led to a -7 plus-minus rating and ultimately cost them the game.

The Blackhawks' powerplay opportunities have been limited as seen in their December 23rd encounter with Montreal Canadiens where they failed to capitalize on their single powerplay chance. This is an area that needs improvement if they want to dominate against Ottawa.

On December 20th against Colorado Avalanche, however, Chicago showed signs of brilliance both offensively and defensively. They secured a win while maintaining even strength throughout the game and capitalized on one out of six powerplay opportunities – showcasing potential for special teams' success.

The Senators are no pushovers; they bring their own set of challenges that CHI will need to overcome. With OTT's resilience and ability to stay competitive in games regardless of opponent stature, it’s crucial for CHI not only to start strong but also maintain consistency throughout all three periods.

For CHI fans looking forward: expect your team's physicality from previous games combined with strategic plays aiming at exploiting OTT’s weaknesses. The key will be converting those hard-earned chances into goals while tightening up defensively – especially during penalty kills where focus can make or break crucial moments in tight matches.

The scheduled face-off is set for February 17th at 3:00 PM (EST) at United Center in Chicago – home ice advantage could play its part too! Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into ESPN+ online or catch local coverage on NBCS-CHI channel 665.