Blackhawks Gameday Preview: Blackhawks host McDavid, Oilers on second night of back-to-back games

Chicago Blackhawks (14-26-2, 30 pts) vs. Edmonton Oilers (25-13-3, 53 pts)
6:00 p.m. CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

Coming off a loss to the Detroit Red Wings last night in a 5-3 game that wasn’t as close as the score would suggest, the Chicago Blackhawks come home to host the Edmonton Oilers on the second night of back-to-back games. The Oilers come into tonight’s game sitting third in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference with 53 points and have won seven of their last ten games. The Blackhawks remain last in the NHL with 30 points and have dropped seven of their last ten games heading into tonight.

Chicago’s efforts in last night’s loss left interim head coach Anders Sorensen, a man usually of few words, with even fewer words to say following the game. The overarching sentiment in his one and two-word answers in last night’s postgame press conference was that he “expects better” of the group.

Being out-attempted 32-2 and out-shot 19-2 in the second period, paired with defensive breakdowns and lapsed efforts led to the 4-1 third period deficit Chicago faced before two late goals from Teuvo Teräväinen provided a false sense of compete level from the Blackhawks.

Now with the Oilers, led by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid in town, the Blackhawks will have a tough task at hand to work themselves out of the identity they have built as a team that (most nights) can be pushed around, is mentality shaky, and cannot string together meaningful puck possession.

Sorensen will go with new lines on the second, third, and fourth groups, as well as the return of Alec Martinez to the defensive group. Teräväinen moves up with Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson, Lukas Reichel is in for Philipp Kurashev, Taylor Hall moves to the fourth line with Ryan Donato and Pat Maroon, and Reichel joins Frank Nazar and Colton Dach on the third line. Wyatt Kaiser sits and Martinez will be paired with Seth Jones.

Teuvo Teraväinen scored two goals in the third period of last night’s loss to the Red Wings for his 19th career multi-goal game. He has 24 points in 19 career games against the Oilers, including ten points in his last six games.

With an assist on the Blackhawks’ first goal of the game last night, Connor Bedard extended his career-long point-streak to nine games. He has four goals and 12 points over this nine-game stretch, which is the second-longest point-streak by a Blackhawks teenager in franchise history, only behind Jonathan Toews’ 10-game point-streak in 2007 in his first ten NHL games. Bedard’s next point will be his 100th in his NHL career.

Season Series

10/12/24 at EDM – 6-3 W
1/11/25 vs EDM
2/5/25 vs EDM

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Tyler Bertuzzi (14)
A-Connor Bedard (27)
P-Connor Bedard (38)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (6)
SOG-Connor Bedard (101)
PIM-Pat Maroon (41)

Oilers Team Leaders

G-Leon Draisaitl (31)
A-Connor McDavid (42)
P-Leon Draisaitl (61)
PPG-Leon Draisaitl (7)
SOG-Leon Draisaitl (130)
PIM-Darnell Nurse (26)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.55 (29th)
GA/G-3.40 (28th)
PP%-23.1 (12th)
PK%-83.6 (5th)
SOG/G-25.4 (31st)
SA/G-30.3 (28th)
FO%-44.3 (31st)
PIM/G-8:22 (15th)

Oilers Team Stats

GF/G-3.29 (8th)
GA/G-2.78 (10th)
PP%-24.0 (8th)
PK%-76.6 (24th)
SOG/G-32.2 (1st)
SA/G-26.2 (4th)
FO%-53.5 (3rd)
PIM/G-6:38 (5th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi-Connor Bedard-Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Foligno-Jason Dickinson-Teuvo Teräväinen
Colton Dach-Frank Nazar-Lukas Reichel
Pat Maroon-Ryan Donato-Taylor Hall

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Alec Martinez-Seth Jones
Nolan Allan-T.J. Brodie

Scratched:
Philipp Kurashev, Wyatt Kaiser

Injured:
Laurent Brossoit (knee), Connor Murphy (OUT), Craig Smith (DTD)

Oilers Probable Lines

Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin-Leon Draisaitl-Viktor Arvidsson
Mattias Janmark-Adam Henrique-Connor Brown
Kasperi Kapanen-Derek Ryan-Corey Perry

Defensemen
Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse-Josh Brown
Brett Kulak-Ty Emberson

Scratched
Troy Stetcher, Jeff Skinner

Injured
Evander Kane (OUT)

Probable Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Söderblom (6-10-1, .905 SV%, 2.92 GAA, 0 SO) vs Stuart Skinner (16-9-3, .898 SV%, 2.77 GAA, 1 SO)

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