Blackhawks Gameday Preview: Blackhawks look to beat the cold and the Hurricanes

Chicago Blackhawks (15-28-3, 33 pts) vs Carolina Hurricanes (27-16-3, 57 pts)
7:30 p.m. CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The last time the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes met, this happened:

FRANK NAZAR SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL ON HIS FIRST NHL SHOT pic.twitter.com/KWIeewZeR4

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 14, 2024

Sure, the Blackhawks lost that game, but who cares right?

Hopefully tonight will provide some of the same fireworks without the same result. One can dream.

Chicago comes into tonight’s game off of a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, their 10th win of the season over a team that is either currently in a Stanley Cup Playoff spot or within a few points of one. It was also the fifth time they have scored five or more goals in a game this season, with a perfect 5-0-0 record in those games, four of which have come against teams with the same playoff parameters.

Now the Blackhawks will try to roll that momentum from the Vegas win into another quality performance against a playoff team in the Hurricanes. Carolina comes to town having won their last game, also against the Golden Knights, and holding a 6-3-3 record over their last 12 games. The Hurricanes have only put together wins in consecutive games three times in their last 28 games dating back to November 20, going 13-12-3 in that span of time.

“They’re a high-pressure team that tries to force turnovers,” Teuvo Teräväinen said of his former team. “When they make you make mistakes, they take advantage of them. When they do that over and over, it gets tough.”

Teuvo Teräväinen spent eight seasons and 555 NHL games with the Hurricanes after being traded by the Blackhawks in 2016. While he has been hot and cold this season, his 33 points in 46 games ranks second on the Blackhawks behind Connor Bedard for the team-lead this season. He has 21 points over his last 20 games for the Blackhawks, all coming under Anders Sorensen as interim head coach.

Bedard leads the Blackhawks this season with 41 points in 46 games this season, registering at least one point in 12 of his last 13 games and 16 of 20 games under Sorensen. Since December 7, Bedard has eight goals and 22 points and is part of 41 players in the NHL playing at a point-per-game pace or better over that stretch of time (min. 15 games), along with Teräväinen.

Tyler Bertuzzi continues to be on a heater with Connor Bedard after a two-goal performance against the Golden Knights on Saturday. Bertuzzi leads the team in goals with 16 this season, a 29-goal pace which would be his highest since the 2021-22 season with the Red Wings. 11 of Bertuzzi’s 16 goals this season have come over the last 20 games, again, under Sorensen as interim head coach.

Two lineup notes for the Blackhawks and Hurricanes as Pat Maroon is out tonight and is considered day-to-day with a back issue, according to Sorensen. Philipp Kurashev draws back into the lineup in his spot. For Carolina, goaltender Frederik Andersen is expected to make his first start since October 26 after being on the shelf since November 22 after having knee surgery.

Season Series

1/20/25 vs CAR
1/30/25 at CAR

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Tyler Bertuzzi (16)
A-Connor Bedard (28)
P-Connor Bedard (41)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (8)
SOG-Connor Bedard (110)
PIM-Pat Maroon (65)

Hurricanes Team Leaders

G-Jack Roslovic (17)
A-Martin Necas (35)
P-Martin Necas (51)
PPG-Andrei Svechnikov (9)
SOG-Andrei Svechnikov (129)
PIM-Andrei Svechnikov (34)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.59 (29th)
GA/G-3.41 (30th)
PP%-24.3 (9th)
PK%-82.7 (7th)
SOG/G-25.1 (32nd)
SA/G-30.8 (28th)
FO%-44.9 (30th)
PIM/G-8:39 (19th)

Hurricanes Team Stats

GF/G-3.30 (6th)
GA/G-2.76 (8th)
PP%-21.7 (15th)
PK%-84.7 (2nd)
SOG/G-31.8 (1st)
SA/G-25.2 (2nd)
FO%-52.6 (4th)
PIM/G-6:57 (7th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Alec Martinez-Seth Jones
Wyatt Kasier-T.J Brodie

Scratched:
Pat Maroon, Nolan Allan

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

Hurricanes Probable Lines

Forwards
Andrei Svechnikov-Sebastian Aho-Jackson Blake
Jack Roslovic-JackDrury-Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal-Seth Jarvis
Juha Jaaska-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Eric Robinson

Defensemen
Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns
Dmitry Orlov-Jalen Chatfield
Shayne Gostisbehere-Sean Walker

Scratched
Ty Smith

Injured
Jesper Fast (IR), William Carrier (OUT), Tyson Jost (OUT)

Probable Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrázek (9-16-1, .894 SV%, 3.24 GAA, 0 SO) vs Frederik Andersen (3-1-0, .916 SV%, 1.48 GAA, 0 SO)