Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Seth Jones & Taylor Hall out, as Connor Bedard returns home

Chicago Blackhawks (6-10-1, 13 pts) vs Vancouver Canucks (8-4-3, 19 pts)
9:00 pm CT – Roger Arena
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks will take on the Vancouver Canucks tonight as they try to avenge a 6-3 loss at the United Center on Oct. 22. The Blackhawks got goals from Ryan Donato, Taylor Hall, and Tyler Bertuzzi on that night. They are 1-9-0 in their last 10 games against Vancouver, including a current five-game losing streak.

The biggest news coming out of Vancouver today is that defense Seth Jones is headed to injured reserve with a foot injury he suffered in Seattle. There is no timeline for a return, as he will be further evaluated when the team returns home tomorrow.

Related Article – Seth Jones heads to Injured Reserve with foot injury

On Thursday’s postgame show, we wanted a message to be sent to the underachieving veterans. Head coach Luke Richardson did just that by scratching Hall. Former Canuck Ilya Mikheyev will return to the lineup in his place. Richardson has said there will be “major changes” to the lineup tonight, and it appears that only the fourth line will remain the same as what we saw against the Kraken.

Saturday night is all about Connor Bedard’s first NHL game in front of his hometown fans. He was injured during the Blackhawks’ only visit last season. The 19-year-old star is going through the toughest stretch of his hockey life, with no goals and only four points in his previous eight games. He had just four shots on goal in the last three contests. The hope is that playing against the team he grew up against in front of friends and family will get him going again offensively. The Blackhawks have four goals in their last four games, so they need their best player to be their best player again.

Season Series

10/22 3-6 vs VAN
11/15 @ VAN
3/15 @ VAN

Quotables

“He seems to have that jump when we go out west. He’s played a lot there for Team Canada in the World Juniors and he’s done really well. We’ve seen that from him. Whether it be a big national game against a McDavid or a Crosby, he seems to rise and enjoy it. We’re hoping he will do that again, not just for the team, but for himself.”

Ricardson on Bedard’s first game in his hometown.

“There are so many guys in this league who are amazing players who have a tough time sometimes finding the back of the net. It’s funny; sometimes it’s going to be a lucky one where it bounces off your shinpad or skates, you’re just around the net, and it hits you and goes in. I know he’s probably feeling it a little bit and wants to score, but I know he can definitely turn it the other way and get just as hot. He’s just got to stay positive and continue to try to play the right way, and I know that when he is hot and feeling good, he can be one of the most dominant guys in the league.”

Donato on Bedard’s struggles.

“He’s the only guy shooting the puck with desperation and not letting an opportunity go by. We all have to take a page out of that book.”

Richardson on Donato

“We want to get him more work, and it’s hard to do that in games without getting too frustrated and chasing. That’s our plan. Players never like sitting out, so he’s not happy, but hopefully, this is a big step for him and will help our team.”

Richardson on scratching Hall

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (8)
A-Connor Bedard (10)
P-Connor Bedard (13)
PPG-Teuvo Teravainen/Tyler Bertuzzi (3)
SOG-Bedard (53)
PIM-Pat Maroon (26)

Canucks Team Leaders

G-Brock Boeser/Pius Suter (6)
A-Quinn Hughes (13)
P-Hughes (16)
PPG-Boeser (3)
SOG-Hughes (55)
PIM-Filip Hronek (14)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.41 (30^th)
GA/G-3.06 (13^th)
PP%-20.4 (13^th)
PK%-78.4 (19^th)
SOG/G-26.8 (27^th)
SA/G-30.8 (27^th)
FO%-45.7 (29^th)
PIM/G-8:35 (17^h)

Canucks Team Stats

GF/G-3.13 (16^th)
GA/G-3.20 (20^th)
PP%-20.0 (15^th)
PK%-83.3 (9^th)
SOG/G-27.9 (20^th)
SA/G-27.7 (9^th)
FO%-51.6 (9^th)
PIM/G-8:56 (15^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Connor Murphy
Alec Martinez-Nolan Allan
Wyatt Kaiser-T.J. Brodie

Scratched:
F- Taylor Hall

Injured:
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), D-Seth Jones (foot)

Canucks Probable Lines

Forwards
Pius Suter-J.T. Miller-Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Jake Debusk-Elias Pettersson-Kiefer Sherwood
Dakota Joshua-Tedd Blueger-Conor Garland
Danton Heinen-Aatu Raty-Nils Hoglander

Defensemen
Quinn Hughes-Filip Hronek
Carson Soucy-Tyler Myers
Erik Brannstrom-Noah Juulsen

Scratched
D-Vincent Desharnais

Injured
F-Brock Boeser (upper body), D-Derek Forbort (knee), G-Thatcher Demko (knee)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (1-2-1, .933 SV%, 2.27 GAA, 0 SO), vs Arturs Silovs (0-2-1, .808 SV%, 4.77 GAA, 0 SO)

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