Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Connor Bedard looks to end struggles versus Ducks

Chicago Blackhawks (6-11-1, 13 pts) vs Anaheim Ducks (7-8-2, 16 pts)
7:30 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks are back on home ice tonight as they host the Anaheim Ducks. The Blackhawks won the first of three meetings against the Ducks back on Nov. 3. They have lost two in a row and have just one goal in regulation in five straight games. Anaheim comes in on a two-game winning streak, including a 4-2 at the Dallas Stars last night, becoming just the second road team to win at the American Airlines Center this season.

Head coach Luke Richardson’s constant line changes remain a hot-button issue as he continues to search for offense. Tonight, Connor Bedard will be moved to the left wing on a line with Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson. The logic behind this move is to get Bedard to play a more straightforward and simple game. The Blackhawks need to get his offensive production going; otherwise, this team has no shot.

While walking into the United Center for morning skate, we were alerted that goaltender Drew Commesso had been recalled from the Rockford IceHogs. Tonight’s slated starter, Petr Mrazek, was absent from the ice. Later, Richardson confirmed that he is attending to a personal matter, and the hope is that he will not be gone long. Arvid Soderblom will start tonight. His .934 SV% is the best in the NHL among goaltenders with at least five starts.

Speaking of good goaltending, that is the biggest reason the Ducks have 16 points on the season. They are near the bottom of the league in almost every offensive category, but the play of Lukas Dostal has kept them afloat. Donstal played last night in Dallas, so the Blackhawks will see veteran John Gibson in the crease tonight.

The Blackhawks have recently owned the series against the Ducks. In the last 14 games, they are 11-2-1, including 7-0-1 at the United Center. Taylor Hall, who is back in the lineup after being scratched on Saturday, has a five-game point streak against Anaheim with two goals and six points. He had two assists in the Nov. 3 victory.

Season Series

11/3 4-2 @ ANA
11/19 vs ANA
3/1 @ ANA

Quotables

“They had a few games last year together, and we did that last year. I thought there were times it worked well, and Dickie and Andy are playing really good hockey right now. It’s a good look to try, and sometimes Connor, being on a left wing, it’s a little more of a quicker shooting release side for him. Maybe on entries, we’ve seen him score like that this year, and in the past, so that’s an opportunity to try it as well.”

Richardson on Bedard and Dickinson together.

“I’m not trying to play mind games or anything with a player. I tell them straight up the way it is, and I thought it was a good plan. For him, I think he’s a fast, explosive offensive player who’s strong on the walls and can retrieve pucks in and around the net. We just haven’t been able to do that. Part of me juggling the lines is to help a guy like that, too, find the right combination that works well with him. At times on the power play, he’s made some great passes, and he’s done a lot of really good things. We talked about that as well. It’s just how do we get him even better?”

Richardson on Hall

“I think you have to toe that line between being angry or embarrassed or whatever, but also, you can’t let it stress you out to the point where you forget what kind of player you are and how much you can bring to the team. It’s a fine line between holding yourself accountable and understanding the messaging or the message, and then it’s another to maintain confidence and come out and play well. So that’s the fine line I’m towing right now. But it’s a good challenge. Look around the room and there’s lots of guys that have faced challenges. And sometimes that’s where confidence comes from; it is when you overcome stuff and get better from it. That’s the view I’m choosing to take.”

Hall on his recent struggles.  

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)

Ducks Team Leaders

G-Troy Terry (6)
A-Terry/Cutter Gauthier/Mason McTavish (6)
P-Terry (12)
PPG-Terry (3)
SOG-Frank Vatrano (52)
PIM-McTavish/Radko Gudas/Ross Johnston (14)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.33 (32^nd)
GA/G-3.11 (15^th)
PP%-20.0 (14^th)
PK%-77.8 (21^st)
SOG/G-26.9 (26^th)
SA/G-30.9 (27^th)
FO%-45.2 (30^th)
PIM/G-8:26 (16^h)

Ducks Team Stats

GF/G-2.53 (27^th)
GA/G-3.06 (14^th)
PP%-15.8 (26^th)
PK%-68.1 (30^th)
SOG/G-27.7 (22^nd)
SA/G-34.9 (32^nd)
FO%-42.0 (32^nd)
PIM/G-7:10 (5^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

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

Scratched:
F-Pat Maroon, D-Louis Crevier, G-Petr Mrazek

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

Ducks Probable Lines

Forwards
Frank Vatrano-Ryan Strome-Troy Terry
Trevor Zegras-Leo Carlsson-Alex Killorn
Gutter Gauthier-Isac Lundestrom-Brett Leason
Sam Colangelo-Jansen Harkins-Ross Johnston

Defensemen
Pavel Mintyukov-Radko Gudas
Jackson LaCombe-Olen Zellweger
Brian Dumoulin-Drew Helleson

Scratched
None

Injured
F-Brock McGinn (upper body), D-Urho Vaakanainen (upper body), F-Robby Fabbri (knee), F-Mason McTavish (upper body), D-Cam Fowler (upper body), G-Tomas Suchanek (torn ACL)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (1-3-1, .934 SV%, 2.22 GAA, 0 SO) vs John Gibson (2-0-0, .908 SV%, 3.01 GAA, 0 SO)

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