Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Lineup changes against the Jets

Chicago Blackhawks (0-1-0, 0 pts) @ Winnipeg Jets (1-0-0, 2 pts)
7:00 pm CT – Canada Life Centre
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks are in Manitoba for the only time this season as they continue their four-game road trip at the Winnipeg Jets. The Blackhawks are looking for their first win of the season after a 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday. The Jets manhandled the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday 6-0, getting goals from six players and a 31-save shutout by Connor Hellebuyck.

Related Article – Blackhawks may have a pair of dynamic duos

Head coach Luke Richardson made a pair of lineup changes. Andreas Athanasiou will draw in for Craig Smith up front, and Wyatt Kaiser will replace Nolan Allan on the blue line. Kaiser missed most of training camp due to a medical issue and is back in the lineup sooner than expected.

Philipp Kurashev, who looked very good with Taylor Hall during the season-opening loss, will look to continue his success against Winnipeg. He has a goal and six points in 10 career games versus the Jets. Connor Bedard had three goals in three games against the Jets last season, including the overtime game-winner last December.

Arvid Soderblom will get the start net tonight, in what could possibly be his only NHL game this season. In three career starts against the Jets, he is 0-3-0 with a .893 save percentage (SV%) and 3.46 goals-against average (GAA).

Season Series

10/11 @ WPG
12/7 vs WPG
4/12 vs WPG

Quotables

“It’s been fun getting to know his game. He’s such a smart player and is always in the right place. He never panics with the puck. Even on his goal the other night, a lot of people wanted him to shoot right away. But he has the presence of mind to do things and has the skill for it.” – Bedard on playing with Teuvo Teravainen

“I talked to him, and he understands. He’s a good veteran. I told him that I would try to get him right back in and that it could be as fast as tomorrow. Things change quickly, and I expect the veterans don’t have to like it, but they do have to accept it.” – Richardson on scratching Smith

“Different opponent, whole different set of circumstances. We got to come home and build on a lot of the good things that we did, obviously. That team game was really good throughout that game, we got to do it again. You know it’s the home opener, distractions at the beginning, and we got to make sure that we are ready to go when that puck drops.” – Jets head coach Scott Arniel

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Teuvo Teravainen/Nick Foligno (1)
A-Bedard (2)
P-Bedard (2)
PPG-N/A
SOG-Bedard (5)
PIM-Pat Maroon (10)

Jets Team Leaders

G-Six tied with 1
A-Mason Appleton/Nino Niederreiter/Josh Morrissey (2)
P-Appleton (3)
PPG-Mark Sheifele/Kyle Connor (1)
SOG- Scheifele (4)
PIM-Connor (2)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.00 (14^th)
GA/G-5.00 (22^nd)
PP%-0.0 (21^st)
PK%-100 (1^st)
SOG/G-26.0 (18^th)
SA/G-27.0 (12^th)
FO%-50.0 (14^th)
PIM/G-17:00 (25th)

Jets Team Stats

GF/G-6.00 (2^nd)
GA/G-0.00 (1^st)
PP%-66.7 (1^st)
PK%-100 (1^st)
SOG/G-20.0 (26^th)
SA/G-30.0 (17^th)
FO%-40.8 (26^th)
PIM/G-2:00 (1^st)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Ilya Mikheyev-Connor Bedard-Teuvo Teravainen
Taylor Hall-Philipp Kurashev-Tyler Bertuzzi
Nick Foligno-Jason Dickinson-Joey Anderson
Pat Maroon-Ryan Donato-Andreas Athanasiou 

Defensemen
Alec Martinez-Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic-T.J. Brodie
Wyatt Kaiser-Connor Murphy 

Scratched:
LW-Lukas Reichel, D-Nolan Allan

Injured:
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), D-Artyom Levshunov (foot)

Jets Probable Lines

Forwards
Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Gabriel Vilardi
Cole Perfetti-Vladislav Namestnikov-Nikolaj Ehlers
Nino Niederreiter-Adam Lowry-Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron-Rasmus Kupari-Alex Iafallo

Defensemen
Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg-Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury-Colin Miller

Scratched
D-Dylan Coughlan

Injured
LW- Jordan Anderson-Dolan (undisclosed), C-David Gustafsson (lower body), D-Logan Stanley (knee), D-Ville Heinola (ankle)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (season debut) vs Connor Hellebuyck (1-0-0, 100 SV%, 0.00 GAA, 1 SO)

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