Chicago Blackhawks (2-2-2, 6 pts) vs Anaheim Ducks (2-2-0, 4 pts)
6 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)
The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action tonight as they host the Anaheim Ducks for the first of three regular-season meetings. The Blackhawks are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks, and are on a three-game point streak. The Ducks lost 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Tonight is the first game of their five-game, 10-day road trip.
The Blackhawk won two of the three games against the Ducks last season, but lost the only game at the United Center. There should be a buzz in the air as Joel Quenneville has returned to the NHL coaching ranks with the Ducks.
Tonight’s starting goaltender, Lukas Dostal, has struggled to start the season, but he’s been excellent against the Blackhawks. In three career starts, his 2-1-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average (GAA) and .933 save percentage (SV%). On the flip side, Spencer Knight is 3-0-0 against the Ducks with a 1.00 GAA, .965 SV%, and two shutouts. You might want to bet the under tonight.
Leo Carlsson, taken second after Connor Bedard at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, is off to a fantastic start. He had Anaheim’s lone goal against Carolina to extend his personal point streak to three games. He has two goals and six points in his last three outings, so the Blackhawks will need a big defensive effort to slow him down.
The Blackhawks will be without forward Jason Dickinson. He is considered day-to-day with a nagging upper-body injury. Tonight is the second game he’s missed this season after being unable to play in the home opener last week. With the team off until Thursday, they are hopeful that a couple of extra days of rest will heal things up.
New Look Top Six
Tyler Bertuzzi is coming off one of his best games with the Blackhawks, and he will remain on the top line with Bedard and Andre Burakovsky. He missed today’s morning skate, but head coach Jeff Blashill anticipates he will play tonight.
Ilya Mikeheyv will move up to the second line with Teuvo Teravainen and Frank Nazar. He’s being rewarded for being the best all-around player the Blackhawks have had early in the season. The veteran forward is getting it done in all three zones of the ice and has been their best penalty killer, while having back-to-back multi-point games.
“Both analytically and from an eye test, Bert and Mikheyev have been helping carry the play,” Blashill said on Saturday. “Bert is smart defensively, so he can help you in your own end. He gets pucks up on the wall, and then he’s at the net hard. I think Burky and Connor need someone who is going to be at the net.”
Mikheyev will look to stay hot with Teravianen, who loves playing the Ducks. He has a five-game point streak versus Anaheim, with four goals and nine points in that span. He has seven goals and 17 points in 21 career games, and three goals on five shots against Dostal.
Ryan Donato’s New Linemates
With Dickinson out and Mikheyev on the second line, Ryan Donato has two new linemates. Landon Slaggert, who is making his season debut, will be on his left with Lukas Reichel on the right side. He’ll be the veteran driver on this speedy line.
Donato is looking to continue his success against the Ducks. He had three goals and an assist against them in last season’s three-game series. He has scored eight goals in 24 games versus Anaheim, so look for him to shoot early and often. His 15 shots on goal this season lead the Blackhawks.
Stay Out of the Box
We could write this for every game, as the Blackhawks lead the NHL with 14:20 in penalty minutes per game. Thankfully, they won’t have to deal with Kelly Sutherland, as T.J. Luxmore and Frederick L’Ecuyer will be tonight’s referees.
Regardless of the referees, giving the Ducks multiple power-play opportunities is a recipe for disaster. They have converted on 26.7% of their chances to start the season, and they have one of the best power-play specialists in recent years on their team. Chris Kreider, who came over from the New York Rangers over the summer, is up to his old tricks. Three of his four goals have come on the man advantage. In his career, he’s scored 35.5% of his goals on the power play (116 of 316).
Season Series
10/19 vs ANA
11/30 vs ANA
12/7 @ ANA
Blackhawks Team Leaders
G-Ilya Mikheyev (3)
A-Teuvo Teravainen (5)
P-Connor Bedard/Frank Nazar/Teravainen (6)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi/Andre Burakovsky/Ryan Donatp/Bedard (1)
GWG-Burakovsky/Nazar (1)
SOG-Bertuzzi/Donato (15)
PIM-Louis Crevier (21)
Ducks Team Leaders
G-Chris Kreider (4)
A-Mason McTavish/Leo Carlsson (4)
P-Carlsson (6)
PPG-Kreider (3)
GWG-Kreider/Carlsson (1)
SOG-Cutter Gauthier (22)
PIM-McTavish (6)
Blackhawks Team Stats
GF/G-3.33 (9th)
GA/G-2.67 (11th)
PP%-21.1 (15th)
PK%-82.1(15th)
SOG/G-23.5 (28th)
SA/G-29.7 (21st)
FO%-46.8 (25th)
PIM/G-14:20 (32nd)
Ducks Team Stats
GF/G-3.25 (10th)
GA/G-4.00 (29th)
PP%-26.7 (8th)
PK%-70.0 (27th)
SOG/G-31.5 (5th)
SA/G-27.8 (16th)
FO%-49.4 (16th)
PIM/G-7:15 (9th)
Blackhawks Probable Lines
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi-Connor Bedard-Andre Burakovsky
Teuvo Teravainen-Frank Nazar-Ilya Mikheyev
Landon Slaggert-Ryan Donato-Lukas Reichel
Colton Dach-Ryan Greene
Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Sam Rinzel
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy
Louis Crevier
Scratched
F-Nick Foligno (personal leave), F-Sam Lafferty
Injured
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), F-Jason Dickinson (upper body)
Ducks Probable Lines
Forwards
Chris Kreider-Leo Carlsson-Alex Killorn
Cutter Gauthier-Mason McTavish-Beckett Sennecke
Frank Vatrano-Mikael Granlund-Troy Terry
Sam Colangelo-Ryan Poehling-Nikita Nesterenko
Defensemen
Jackson LaCombe-Radko Gudas
Olen Zellweger-Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov-Drew Helleson
Scratched
F-Ross Johnston
Injured
F-Jansen Harkins (upper body), F-Ryan Strome (upper body)
Goaltending Matchup
Spencer Knight (1-2-1, 2.22 GAA, .924 SV%, 0 SO) vs Lukas Dostal (1-2-0, 3.40 GAA, .886 SV%, 0 SO)