Key Takeaways:
- The Chicago Blackhawks (6-5-3) face the Calgary Flames (4-9-2) in a late-night matchup.
- The Blackhawks are expected to maintain the same lineup that secured a 5-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks.
- The Flames’ defenseman Kevin Bahl is a game-time decision due to an undisclosed reason.
- The Blackhawks have several players on the injured list, including Laurent Brossoit and Jason Dickinson.
- The Flames are also dealing with injuries, notably Martin Pospisil.
Game Preview: Blackhawks vs. Flames
The Chicago Blackhawks are set to clash with the Calgary Flames in a highly anticipated match. The Blackhawks, currently holding a record of 6-5-3, are coming off a confidence-boosting 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks and appear poised to maintain the lineup that contributed to that victory. The Flames, with a record of 4-9-2, are looking to turn their season around on home ice.
Blackhawks’ Projected Lineup
The Blackhawks’ expected lineup features some intriguing forward combinations. Ryan Greene is projected to skate alongside rookie sensation Connor Bedard and veteran Andre Burakovsky on the top line. The second line sees Teuvo Teravainen teaming up with Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi. The third line consists of Ryan Donato, Colton Dach, and Ilya Mikheyev, while the fourth line features Oliver Moore and Nick Foligno.
On defense, Alex Vlasic is expected to partner with Sam Rinzel, while Matt Grzelcyk will skate alongside Connor Murphy. The third defensive pairing is projected to be Wyatt Kaiser and Artyom Levshunov. Louis Crevier is also available as a depth defenseman. In goal, Spencer Knight is expected to start, with Arvid Soderblom serving as the backup. The Blackhawks will be without Sam Lafferty, who is a healthy scratch. Furthermore, they are dealing with injuries to key players such as Laurent Brossoit (hip) and Jason Dickinson (upper body).
Flames’ Projected Lineup
The Flames’ projected lineup features Connor Zary, Nazem Kadri, and Joel Farabee on the top line. The second line consists of Jonathan Huberdeau, Morgan Frost, and Matt Coronato. Samuel Honzek, Mikael Backlund, and Blake Coleman are expected to form the third line, while Ryan Lomberg, Yegor Sharangovich, and Adam Klapka round out the forward group on the fourth line.
Defensively, Kevin Bahl is slated to partner with Rasmus Andersson, but his availability is questionable as he didn’t participate in the morning skate and is a game-time decision. Joel Hanley and MacKenzie Weegar are projected to form the second defensive pairing, while Brayden Pachal and Zayne Parekh make up the third. Dustin Wolf is expected to start in goal, with Devin Cooley as the backup. The Flames will be without Justin Kirkland, Jake Bean, and Yan Kuznetsov, who are healthy scratches. They are also missing Martin Pospisil due to an undisclosed injury.
Team Status and Injury Updates
The Blackhawks are looking to build on their recent success and maintain their momentum. Keeping the same lineup that performed well against the Canucks suggests that the coaching staff is confident in the current player combinations and strategy.
The Flames, on the other hand, face some uncertainty with Kevin Bahl’s status. If Bahl is unable to play, Kuznetsov, who recently made his season debut, could remain in the lineup. This would necessitate some shuffling of the defensive pairings. The absence of Pospisil due to injury further complicates matters for the Flames. Coach Ryan Huska will need to make strategic decisions to fill the gaps and ensure the team remains competitive.
