Blackhawks Gameday Preview: Bedard, Blackhawks hope to extinguish Flames

Chicago Blackhawks (14-27-2, 30 pts) vs. Calgary Flames (20-14-7, 47 pts)
6:30 p.m. CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks will complete their own “Battle of Alberta” tonight after playing their final matchup of the season against the Calgary Flames following their loss on Saturday night to the Edmonton Oilers. In four meetings between Chicago and the two Albertan teams, the Blackhawks have been out-scored 15-12, 9-5 against the Flames specifically.

Tempers flared in the last meeting between the teams as Martin Pospisil landed some questionable hits on Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar in the game, prompting Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi to stand up for their young teammates as Nick Foligno and Pat Maroon looked to get in the face of Pospisil as well. Don’t be shocked if there is retribution on the minds of the Blackhawks.

One of the best ways to get back at your opponent is on the scoreboard. Chicago comes into this game having scored three or more goals in four of their last five games since the loss in the Winter Classic. Three goals in a game is above the 2.56 average for the Blackhawks this season, holding a 12-7-0 record in the 19 games they have reached or exceeded the three-goal threshold.

Following a tough matchup against the Edmonton Oilers in their first game playing together on a line, the trio of Colton Dach, Frank Nazar, and Lukas Reichel will get another go as the Blackhawks’ third forward line tonight. Against Edmonton, the trio was out-attempted 13-0 and out-shot 3-0 while on the ice together in 7:13 minutes of 5v5 play. But interim head coach Anders Sorensen isn’t abandoning the young group after one bad game, expressing the necessity for players to take time to gel together.

Rookie defenseman Nolan Allan has progressed well in his first year playing in the NHL. In back-to-back games, Allan has recorded a primary assist and a shot on goal. He ranks fifth among Blackhawks defensemen in production this season with a goal and eight points in 38 games, while being second among defensemen on the team in hits with 47.

Teuvo Teräväinen has started another hot-streak this season with points in three-straight games and four of his last five. He has three goals in his last two games for Chicago and is second on the team in points with 30 in 43 games. Teräväinen is on pace for 57 points this season, which would be his highest total over the past three seasons. Both he and Connor Bedard are playing at point-per-game paces or better for the Blackhawks since Anders Sorensen took over as interim head coach.

One final note on the lineup, Wyatt Kaiser is back in the defensive group and T.J. Brodie will be sitting. Sorensen said in the pregame media availability that the decision was to give Brodie a “reset” and to “manage the lineup” as the Blackhawks play four games in a stretch of six days that ends tonight before two days off and lone-game road trip to Nashville on January 16.

Season Series

10/15/24 at CGY – 3-1 L
12/21/24 at CGY – 6-3 L
1/13/25 vs CGY

Blackhawks Team Leaders

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

Flames Team Leaders

G-Jonathan Huberdeau (18)
A-MacKenzie Weever (17)
P-Jonathan Huberdeau (31)
PPG-Jonathan Huberdeau (5)
SOG-Nazem Kadri (140)
PIM-Brayden Pachal, Martin Pospisil (51)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.56 (29th)
GA/G-3.42 (28th)
PP%-22.9 (12th)
PK%-82.9 (6th)
SOG/G-25.1 (32nd)
SA/G-30.3 (28th)
FO%-44.5 (31st)
PIM/G-8:16 (13th)

Flames Team Stats

GF/G-2.61 (27th)
GA/G-2.98 (14th)
PP%-20.7 (18th)
PK%-70.8 (30th)
SOG/G-29.3 (11th)
SA/G-29.3 (25th)
FO%-45.0 (29th)
PIM/G-10:29 (30th)

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-Wyatt Kasier

Scratched:
Philipp Kurashev, T.J. Brodie

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

Flames Probable Lines

Forwards
Jonathan Huberdeau-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Matthew Coronato
Rory Kerins-Yegor Sharangovich-Jakob Pelletier
Ryan Lomberg-Kevin Rooney-Walker Duehr

Defensemen
Kevin Bahl-Rasmus Andersson
Joel Hanley-MacKenzie Weegar
Jake Bean-Brayden Pachal

Scratched
Andrei Kuzmenko, Tyson Barrie, Daniil Miromanov

Injured
Anthony Mantha (IR), Conor Zary (IR), Justin Kirkland (IR)

Probable Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrázek (8-15-1, .895 SV%, 3.31 GAA, 0 SO) vs Dustin Wolf (14-6-2, .916 SV%, 2.52 GAA, 2 SO)

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