Chicago Blackhawks (10-19-2, 22pts) vs Washington Capitals (21-7-2, 44 pts)
7:30 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)
The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action tonight as they host the Washington Capitals. The home team is looking to build off a big win over the New York Islanders on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Capitals had their 10-game road winning streak snapped by the Dallas Stars last night.
Taylor Hall was absent from today’s morning skate. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen said the veteran winger is a game-time decision and “took the morning off.” There is a good chance he caught whatever illness that kept Nick Foligno out of Sunday’s game, but without confirmation, we are left with only speculation.
Speaking of speculation, based on the line rush, Philipp Kurashev could be the odd man out if Hall does play tonight. He was on the second line, where Hall had been playing well in the last few games. Foligno is back in the lineup and looks to have joined Connor Bedard and Ryan Donato on the top line.
In other injury news, goaltender Petr Mrazek participated in the full practice today and is “real close” to a return. Defensemen Seth Jones and Alec Martinez were on the ice ahead of today’s morning skate. Sorensen said Jones is “day-by-day,” and his return is close too.
The Capitals enter the United Center with the most points in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve done that without Alex Ovechkin for the last 12 games. Former Blackhawks Dylan Strome has been enjoying a career season with 11 goals and 38 points. He’s been their top-line center all season long, and lately, he’s been joined by another former Blackhawk, Taylor Raddysh. He’ll be playing in his first game back in Chicago tonight. Raddysh has four goals and 14 points on the season.
Season Series
12/17 vs WSH
4/4 @ WSH
Quotables
“I mean, that’s one thing we’re trying to figure out here. We’re part of it, too, so we have to help him out. It’s five games here now, and it hasn’t been working with Connor, so we’re looking to make a change there and see if we can ignite him somewhere else and take it from there. We’ve seen it in the past. He had 54 points and did a lot of good things. It’s a tough league; the league figures you out, so he has to find ways now to evolve his game, and we’re here to help him out as well.”
Anders Sorensen on Philipp Kurashev
“It’s hard when you’re struggling not to get too frustrated. You try not to be negative. They (the coaches) want me to win more of my battles. That will help me with my offense, get more touches, and help the team more.”
Kurashev on his struggles.
“I thought it was great. I loved everybody down there. I loved the staff and my teammates. They helped a bunch. Being able to go down there, be myself, and play my game definitely helped. I’m glad I had the opportunity.”
Frank Nazar on his time in Rockford.
Blackhawks Team Leaders
G-Ryan Donato (10)
A-Connor Bedard (19)
P-Connor Bedard (26)
PPG-Teuvo Teravainen (5)
SOG-Bedard (77)
PIM-Connor Murphy (32)
Capitals Team Leaders
G-Connor McMichael (15)
A-Dylan Strome (27)
P-Strome (38)
PPG-Tom Wilson (6)
SOG-McMichael (83)
PIM-Brandon Duhaime (37)
Blackhawks Team Stats
GF/G-2.48 (30th)
GA/G-319 (24th)
PP%-23.8 (9th)
PK%-84.4 (4th)
SOG/G-25.5 (30th)
SA/G-30.0 (26th)
FO%-43.2 (31st)
PIM/G-7:23 (9th)
Capitals Team Stats
GF/G-3.87 (2nd)
GA/G-2.67 (7th)
PP%-21.5 (15th)
PK%-83.2 (6th)
SOG/G-29.2 (14th)
SA/G-27.5 (8th)
FO%-50.1 (18th)
PIM/G-9:04 (23rd)
Blackhawks Probable Lines
Forwards
Nick Foligno-Connor Bedard-Ryan Donato
Philipp Kurashev-Frank Nazar-Tyler Bertuzzi
Teuvo Teravainen-Jason Dickinson-Ilya Mikheyev
Pat Maroon-Lukas Reichel-Joey Anderson
Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Wyatt Kaiser
Nolan Allan-Connor Murphy
Kevin Korchinski-T.J. Brodie
Scratched:
D-Wyatt Kaiser, F-Taylor Hall
Injured:
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), D-Seth Jones (foot), G-Petr Mrazek (groin), Alec Martinez (neck), F-Craig Smith (back)
Capitals Probable Lines
Forwards
Connor McMichael-Dylan Strome-Raddysh
Aliaksei Protas-Pierre Luc Dobios-Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana-Lars Eller-Hendrix Lapierre
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Ivan Miroshnichenko
Defensemen
Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Rasmus Sadin-Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Scratched
D-Dylan McIlrath, D-Alexander Alexeyev, F-Andrew Mangiapane (illness)
Injured
F-Nicklas Backstrom (hip), F-Sonny Milano (upper body), F-T.J. Oshie (back), F-Alex Ovechkin (leg0
Goaltending Matchup
Arvid Soderblom (3-7-1, .909 SV%, 2.76 GAA, 0 SO) vs Logan Thompson (12-1-2, .913 SV%, 2.45 GAA, 0 SO)
