Anaheim @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2020 ) Anaheim 2, Chicago 4

The Chicago Blackhawks salvaged what could have been a disastrous four-game road trip with back-to-back victories to maintain a pulse in their bid to snag a playoff berth. Seeking to win three in a row for the first time since before the All-Star break, the Blackhawks enter a favorable portion of the schedule in Tuesday's home game versus the Anaheim Ducks.

Chicago plays 11 of 15 games in March at home, including five of the next six, as it attempts to whittle an eight-point gap on the top wild card in the tightly bunched Western Conference. “You’re not in a hotel. You have your family and your loved ones around you," forward Drake Caggiula said. "You’re in your own locker room. It makes it way easier when you’re home.” While the Blackhawks had lost nine of 11 (2-7-2) before posting road wins at Tampa Bay and Florida, Anaheim had its two-game winning streak halted in a 3-0 loss to New Jersey in the finale of a six-game homestand. The Ducks have dropped three in a row in the series and both meetings this season, including a 4-2 setback at Chicago on Jan. 11.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Chicago, FS West

ABOUT THE DUCKS (26-31-8): With Rickard Rakell mired in a 14-game goal drought, coach Dallas Eakins tweaked his lines Monday, moving the Swedish forward off a line with captain Ryan Getzlaf and Sonny Milano and pairing him with Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg. Rakell, who totaled 67 goals in consecutive seasons (2016-18), has been limited to 13 this season, but he had a game-high five shots on net Sunday. “I think I have the chances now, so I know it’s going to come eventually,” Rakell said. “It would be worse if I didn’t have any chances."

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (29-28-8): Corey Crawford is the unquestioned No. 1 goaltender following the trade of Robin Lehner to Vegas and he came up big in the two-game swing through the Sunshine State, turning aside 74 of 78 shots. “It’s more about reading the game and getting a feel for certain situations,” said Crawford, who has yielded three goals or fewer in 14 of his last 15 starts. “I’m getting a little bit more patient. I’m not playing like it’s a rush to get saves and get into games.” Crawford is 15-7-2 with a 2.01 goals-against average versus the Ducks.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks F Patrick Kane has been held off the scoresheet in back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 10-12.

2. Ducks backup G Ryan Miller (flu) rejoined the team at practice Monday but it's uncertain if he would accompany the team to Chicago.

3. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews became the first player with 50 career shootout goals in Saturday's victory.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Ducks 2