Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Bruins in town for battle of low-powered offenses

Chicago Blackhawks (8-15-2, 18 pts) vs Boston Bruins (13-11-3, 29 pts)
6:30 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang), TNT/Max (Forslund/Botterhill/Armstrong)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks host the Boston Bruins tonight for their second-straight Original Six matchup. The Blackhawks lost 4-1 in Toronto on Monday night despite one of their best puck-possession games of the season. The Bruins beat the Detroit Red Wings in overtime last night, so the Blackhawks should look to take advantage of a tired team.

If you partake in sports betting, the under for tonight’s game would be a wise wager. The Bruins are 30^th in the NHL in goals per game, one spot ahead of the Blackhawks, who are 31^st. Jeremy Swayman is the likely starter tonight, which might be a break for Chicago. He has struggled since sitting out training camp for his big contract. It sounds strange that the Blackhawks’ offense could have a “get right” night against him, but the numbers suggest it.

Tonight’s game features numerous players taking on their former teams. Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Donato, Pat Maroon, and Craig Smith have all spent time with the Bruins. On the other side, defensemen Jordan Oesterle and Nikita Zadorov return to the United Center. Tyler Johnson is on the Bruins roster but has only played eight games and was scratched against Detroit last night.

Season Series

12/4 vs BOS
4/10 @ BOS

Quotables

“There’s been some chances this year, and like a lot of us, maybe he’s bearing down a little bit in front of the net. We’ve had a little bit of tough luck where it just hasn’t gone in, or a miraculous save or something, an accumulation of different reasons, I guess. I think his 5v5 game has been much improved in the last three or four games. He’s moving better on the ice, and I think maybe just taking a little time to settle in. he looks more comfortable.”

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson on Tyler Bertuzzi

“I thought we felt that last game. All those guys who played in Toronto had extremely good games moving their feet, which created a lot of O-zone time for us. I thought it was one of our better games offensively, possession time, not necessarily offense on the board. That’s where we have to bear down and somehow get more pucks across the line. But we’re hoping for that again tonight. There are lots of ex-Bruins and two Original Six teams, and it’s always a little extra special. We’re in the West, and they’re in the East. You only have one shot at them in this rink. We have to make sure we get that. You don’t have a redo of this game throughout the season. We have to make the most of that tonight.”

Richardson on former Bruins

“This is a tough league to win in, regardless of the type of game. It wasn’t a clean game, either side. It was a low-event game for a while there; the second period got a little interesting [with penalties]. You just stay with it in those types of games. You try not to deviate from what you’re trying to implement, and the guys with the game plan stay with it, and for the most part, we did that.”

Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (10)
A-Connor Bedard (14)
P-Connor Bedard (19)
PPG-Teuvo Teravainen (4)
SOG-Bedard (66)
PIM-Connor Murphy (30)

Bruins Team Leaders

G-David Pastrnak (9)
A-Pastrnak (15)
P-Pastrnak (24)
PPG-Pastrnak/Charlie Coyle/Justin Brazeau (3)
SOG-Pastrnak (109)
PIM-Nikita Zadorov (58)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.44 (31^st)
GA/G-3.12 (19^th)
PP%-23.5 (10^th)
PK%-80.3 (14^th)
SOG/G-26.2 (30^th)
SA/G-30.6 (27^th)
FO%-44.2 (30^th)
PIM/G-7:38 (11th)

Bruins Team Stats

GF/G-2.48 (30^th)  
GA/G-3.04 (17^th)
PP%-12.4 (31^st)
PK%-79.2 (19^th)
SOG/G-27.8 (24^th)
SA/G-28.1 (11^th)
FO%-51.6 (11^th)
PIM/G-11:04 (30^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

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

Scratched:
F-Joey Anderson, D-Louis Crevier

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

Bruins Probable Lines

Forwards
Morgan Geekie-Pavel Zacha-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Elias Lindholm-Justin Brazeau
Trent Frederic-Charlie Coyle-Mark Kastelic
Cole Koepke-John Beecher-Marc McLaughlin

Defensemen
Jordan Oesterle-Charlie McAvoy
Nikita Zadorov-Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei-Andrew Peeke

Scratched
F-Tyler Johnson, D-Parker Wotherspoon

Injured
D-Hampus Lindholm (lower body), D-Alec Regula (knee)

Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrazek (7-10-1, .908 SV%, 2.79 GAA, 0 SO) vs Jeremy Swayman (7-9-2, .892 SV%, 3.09 GAA, 1 SO)

Get Chicago's Best Sports Content In Your Inbox!Become a smarter Chicago sports fan with the latest game recaps, analysis and exclusive content from CHGO’s writers and podcasters!

Just drop your email below!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Sign Up Now!

70062