A win against the Ducks could start with Blackhawks' top line

Chicago Blackhawks (10-9-5, 25 pts) vs Anaheim Ducks (15-8-1, 31 pts)
2:30 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action tonight as they host the Anaheim Ducks. This is the second of three meetings between these two Western Conference rivals. The Blackhawks beat the Ducks 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 19. Frank Nazar scored in regulation before Ryan Donato won the game in extra time.

Tonight wraps up a stretch of the schedule with eight home games in nine games. The Blackhawks are 2-5-1 at the United Center during this span. This was a missed opportunity to stack some points on home ice, especially after winning the final three games of the six-game road trip before this homestand.

The Blackhawks will head out on a four-game road trip out west after tonight. The trip begins at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, then back-to-back games at the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and Saturday before finishing up at the Ducks on Sunday.

Teuvo Teravainen Questionable

The Blackhawks can’t seem to get everyone healthy at the same time. They have been plagued by minor injuries all season long. They have 60 man games lost this season, and every time they get somebody back into the lineup, someone else goes down.

Teuvo Teravainen missed Saturday’s practice and was ruled questionable for tonight’s game by head coach Jeff Blashill. Based on what we’ve seen all season, they will likely play it safe and have Teravainen sit out. That likely means Landon Slaggert will rejoin the lineup. I don’t have to tell you that going from Teravainen to Slaggert is a significant drop off.

It’s uncertain where Teravainen got hurt against the Nashville Predators on Friday. He scored a goal midway through the third period and took four more shifts, including the final one of the game. He is second among forwards in average ice time at 5-on-5 and shorthanded.

Hello, Old Friend

The Ducks are dealing with a significant injury of their own. Goaltender Lukas Dostal is out for 2-3 weeks with an upper-body injury. The recently recalled Ville Husso started Friday against the Kings, meaning former Blackhawk Petr Mrazek is likely to start today at the United Center.

The Ducks acquired Mrazek in the offseason as part of the trade that sent John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings. He’s struggled in his six starts with Anaheim, posting a 3.69 goals-against average (GAA) and an .881 save percentage (SV%). Before his 128 games in Chicago, he went 5-2-2 against the Blackhawks with a 2.57 GAA, .918 SV%, and two shutouts.

It Starts at the Top

If the Blackhawks want to snap their five-game losing streak, it will likely be on the backs of their top line. Connor Bedard has loved playing against the Ducks in his young career. He has a goal and 11 assists in seven career games, including a helper in the win last month. He had a career-best four assists and five points against them in a 7-2 win on March 12, 2024.

Bedard’s right winger, Andre Burakovsky, has also enjoyed seeing Anaheim on the schedule. In 28 games against the Ducks, the veteran forward has eight goals and 15 points. Ryan Greene has only one game against the Ducks, but he’s coming off scoring a goal in Friday’s game. He’s fit in well with Bedard and Burakovsky, and while some fans want him off the top line, he’s producing scoring chances. Now, he needs some more finish.

Season Series

10/19 vs ANA W 2-1, OT
11/30 vs ANA
12/7 @ ANA

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Connor Bedard (14)
A-Bedard (19)
P-Bedard (33)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (6)
GWG-Ryan Donato/Bedard (2)
SOG-Bedard (80)
PIM-Colton Dach (32)

Ducks Team Leaders

G-Cutter Gauthier (14)
A-Troy Terry/Leo Carlsson (20)
P-Carlsson (33)
PPG-Chris Kreider (6)
GWG-Carlsson (3)
SOG-Gauthier (101)
PIM-Ross Johnston (46)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-3.13 (9th)
GA/G-2.88 (12th)
PP%-22.9 (9th)
PK%-83.5 (7th)
SOG/G-25.5 (27th)
SA/G-30.5 (28th)
FO%-46.8 (28th)
PIM/G-12:12 (30th)

Ducks Team Stats

GF/G-3.63 (2nd)
GA/G-3.25 (23rd)
PP%-20.7 (16th)
PK%-75.0 (28th)
SOG/G-30.5 (4th)
SA/G-29.9 (24th)
FO%-46.3 (29th)
PIM/G-10:30 (26th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Ryan Greene-Connor Bedard-Andre Burakovsky
Oliver Moore-Frank Nazar-Tyler Bertuzzi
Ryan Donato-Jason Dickinson-Ilya Mikheyev
Colton Dach-Landon Slaggert

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy
Sam Rinzel

Scratched
F-Sam Lafferty

Injured
G-Laurent Brossoit (hip), F-Nick Foligno (hand), F-Teuvo Teravainen (undisclosed)

Ducks Probable Lines

Forwards
Cutter Gauthier-Leo Carlsson-Troy Terry
Chris Kreider-Mason McTavish-Beckett Sennecke
Nikita Nesterenko-Ryan Poehling-Alex Killorn
Ross Johnston-Ryan Strome-Frank Vatrano

Defensemen
Jackson LaCombe-Radko Gudas
Olen Zellweger-Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov-Drew Helleson

Scratched
F-Jansen Harkins, D-Ian Moore

Injured
F-Mikael Granlund (lower body), G-Lukas Dostal (upper body)

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (7-5-4, 2.47 GAA, .920 SV%, 1 SO) vs Petr Mrazek (3-3-0, 3.69 GAA, .881 SV%, 0 SO)