Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Looking for more treats in San Jose

Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-1, 7 pts) vs San Jose Sharks (2-7-2, 6 pts)
9:30 pm CT – SAP Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

After the trick-or-treating, we get a late-night Halloween game between the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks are trying to win back-to-back games for the first time this season after beating the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. This was a feat they only accomplished three times all last season.

The Blackhawks have a five-game winning streak against the Sharks, including a 4-2 victory at the United Center two weeks ago. They are 4-2-0 in their last six trips to San Jose. Teuvo Teravainen had two assists in the first meeting this season, extending his point streak versus the Sharks to six games. He has three goals and nine points in that span. He hasn’t notched a point since that game on Oct. 17, so he’s happy to see the Sharks back on the schedule.

The Sharks were the last team to win a game in the NHL but are now on a two-game winning streak. They picked up their first win on Monday, erasing a 4-1 deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to beat the Utah Hockey Club 5-4 in overtime. They backed that up with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings the next night. Despite all their early season struggles, they only have one fewer point than the Blackhawks in the standings.

Mikael Granlund has been on a tear to start the season. The 32-year-old veteran has five goals in his last five games, including a pair against the Kings last time out. He has nine goals and 36 points in 48 games versus the Blackhawks in his career. Tyler Toffoli is another veteran off to a strong start for San Jose. He has goals in back-to-back games and has three goals and seven points in his last eight outings against Chicago.

Season Series

10/17 4-2 vs SJS
10/31 @ SJS
3/13 @ SJS

Quotables

“He’s in the right spots all the time. He’s still contributing offensively. Who knows? Maybe by the end of the year he gets another 20 goals, which would be great. He’s a total pro. He gets it. In my mind, he’s taken giant steps in the last two years in leadership roles. During the game, on the bench, saying the right things and making sure everybody’s on track. He had an unbelievable game last game, and that’s indicative of him knowing his role and executing it to a T. He knows his best attributes that will help him and the team. He uses them to the best of his ability.”

Luke Richardson on Jason Dickinson

“The key for any defenseman, whether you’re a young guy or an older guy, is moving the puck quickly out of your zone. That’s the way the game is played now. And when you don’t, or when it hops over your stick, everyone gets in trouble. It happened a couple of times with Brodie, but he has made some good quick plays that are subtle, so you don’t really notice them. He’s a veteran and always seems calm. He retreats to the inside, where he can re-establish position. That’s where his experience is so valuable.”

Richardson on T.J. Brodie

“He’s really risen his game. He looks confident. Even on the ice in practice, he’s feeling good about his game. He’s skating well. He’s been playing with two big, experienced wingers. I think that’s helping him. They talk a lot on the ice. Reichel is a quieter guy, so that helps bring his personality out. That gets him talking about plays and leading to execution on the ice. I’m loving what that line is doing.”

Richardson on Lukas Reichel

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (5)
A-Connor Bedard/Seth Jones (6)
P-Bedard (9)
PPG-Teravainen/Tyler Bertuzzi (2)
SOG-Bedard (34)
PIM-Pat Maroon/Connor Murphy (19)

Sharks Team Leaders

G-Tyler Toffoli/Fabian Zetterlund (6)
A-Mikael Granlund (8)
P-Granlund (13)
PPG-Granlund (3)
SOG-Granlund (38)
PIM-Luke Kunin (13)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.70 (24^th)
GA/G-3.30 (17^th)
PP%-21.2 (15^th)
PK%-77.4 (19^th)
SOG/G-27.5 (25^th)
SA/G-29.1 (17^th)
FO%-47.1 (27^th)
PIM/G-8:36 (13^th)

Sharks Team Stats

GF/G-2.45 (29^th)
GA/G-4.00 (28^th)
PP%-19.4 (17^th)
PK%-79.6 (17^th)
SOG/G-30.9 (10^th)
SA/G-32.4 (27^th)
FO%-49.4 (18^th)
PIM/G-11:00 (27^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Philipp Kurashev-Connor Bedard-Teuvo Teravainen
Taylor Hall- Nick Foligno-Tyler Bertuzzi
Ilya Mikheyev-Jason Dickinson-Ryan Donato
Pat Maroon-Lukas Reichel-Craig Smith

Defensemen
Wyatt Kaiser-Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic-Connor Murphy
Nolan Allan-T.J. Brodie

Scratched:
F- Andreas Athanasiou, F-Joey Anderson

Injured:
D-Alec Martinez (groin), G-Laurent Brossoit (knee)

Sharks Probable Lines

Forwards
William Eklund-Mikael Granlund-Tyler Toffoli
Danil Gushchin-Alex Wennberg-Fabian Zetterlund
Barclay Goodrow-Will Smith-Luke Kunin
Carl Grundstrom-Nico Strum-Ethan Cardwell

Defensemen
Jake Walman-Codi Ceci
Mario Ferraro-Jan Rutta
Henry Thrun-Timothy Liljegren

Scratched
F-Klim Kostin, F-Givani Smith, D-Jack Thompson

Injured
F-Ty Dellandrea (upper body), F-Maklin Celebrini (lower body), D-Lucas Carlsson (undisclosed), Marc-Eduard Vlasic (upper body), F-Logan Couture (groin), F-Igor Cheryshov (shoulder)

Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrazek (3-5-0, .896 SV%, 3.04 GAA, 0 SO) vs Mackenzie Blackwood (1-3-2, .888 SV%, 3.89 GAA, 0 SO)

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