Blackhawks Game Day Preview: Ryan Donato earns promotion against the Kings

Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-1, 7 pts) vs Los Angeles Kings (6-3-2, 14 pts)
3:00 pm CT – Crypto.com Arena
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks will finish their swing through California with back-to-back games at the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Today’s matinee will be the team’s first of three contests against the Kings, who are in second place in the Pacific Division. The Blackhawks will look to start today’s game like they finished Thursday night’s loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Head coach Luke Richardson has promoted Ryan Donato to the top line with Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev. He has also been added to the top power-play unit. Donato has goals in three straight games and now leads the team with six. Goaltender Petr Mrazek will make his fifth straight start for the Blackhawks. In eight career games against the Kings, he is 3-3-1 with a .936 save percentage (SV%), 1.92 goals-against average (GAA), and one shutout.

Once again, the Kings are led by their captain, ageless wonder Anze Kopitar. At 37, he’s showing no signs of slowing down, with four goals and 12 points in 11 games. He had a goal and four points in his last three games. In 53 career regular-season games against the Blackhawks, he has 15 goals and 40 points. Veteran Darcy Kuemper will start in goal for Los Angeles today. He is 8-2-1 in his career versus the Blackhawks, with a .925 SV%, 2.23 SV%, and one shutout.

***UPDATE***

Isaak Phillips will replace T.J. Brodie in today’s lineup.

Season Series

11/2 @ LAK
3/3 vs LAK
3/20 vs LAK

Quotables 

“We’ve got to create some offense. We’ve been creating some offensive chances. Sometimes, a bit of a shake-up at this time of the year is good. We’ve had 11 games, so maybe have a look. It’s always easy to go back because you have familiarity with other guys. It’s to go back rather than staying pat and sputtering along for more games.”

Richardson on line changes.

“He’s been great for us. We’ve got to get him more than two goals. We’re playing well in front of him. That’s been a big part of our team. But we don’t want to strain it too much, and it starts to create health issues for him. But I don’t see any now, and he feels great. We’ll split the next two games and get Soderblom back in there. Petr deserves a rest.”

Richardson on Mrazek.

“He’s an aggressive guy out there and very intense. He’s like an old-school Russian, where he’s quiet and reserved, but it comes out. I love his competitive nature. He’s starting to produce a little offense, and he’s really responsible defensively.”

Richardson on Ilya Mikheyev

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (6)
A-Connor Bedard/Seth Jones/Connor Murphy (6)
P-Bedard (9)
PPG-Teravainen/Tyler Bertuzzi (2)
SOG-Bedard (37)
PIM-Pat Maroon/Connor Murphy (19)

Kings Team Leaders

G-Alex Laferriere (6)
A-Bradt Clarke (10)
P-Anze Kopitar (12)
PPG-Kevin Fiala (3)
SOG-Fiala (29)
PIM-Fiala/Clarke (12)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.64 (25^th)
GA/G-3.27 (17^th)
PP%-19.4 (16^th)
PK%-75.0 (21^st)
SOG/G-28.2 (19^th)
SA/G-29.1 (19^th)
FO%-46.6 (28^th)
PIM/G-8:36 (13^th)

Kings Team Stats

GF/G-3.27 (13^th)
GA/G-3.27 (17^th)
PP%-15.4 (23^rd)
PK%-76.1 (19^th)
SOG/G-29.8 (14^th)
SA/G-26.9 (5^th)
FO%-47.5 (26^th)
PIM/G-11:00 (27^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

Defensemen
Wyatt Kaiser-Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic-Connor Murphy
Nolan Allan-Isaak Phillips

Scratched:
F- Andreas Athanasiou, F-Joey Anderson, D-T.J. Brodie

Injured:
D-Alec Martinez (groin), G-Laurent Brossoit (knee)

Kings Probable Lines

Forwards
Alex Turcotte-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala-Phillip Danault-Trevor Moore
Warren Foegele-Quinton Byfield-Alex Laferriere
Akil Thomas-Trevor Lewis-Tanner Jeannot

Defensemen
Mikey Anderson-Vladislav Gavrikov
Joel Edmundson-Brandt Clarke
Andreas Englund-Jordan Spence

Scratched
D-Kyle Burroughs, F-Andre Lee, D-Caleb Jones

Injured
D-Drew Doughty (ankle), F-Arthur Kaliyev (clavicle)

Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrazek (3-6-0, .896 SV%, 3.05 GAA, 0 SO) vs Darcy Kuemper (3-0-2, .895 SV%, 3.16 GAA, 0 SO)

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