Blackhawks down a defenseman, make change to top six vs Devils

Chicago Blackhawks (27-33-13, 67 pts) @ New Jersey Devils (37-33-6, 76 pts)
6 pm CT – Prudential Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks will wrap up their four-game road trip tonight as they play the New Jersey Devils for the second and final time this season. The Devils won the first meeting, 4-3 in overtime, back in November. Defenseman Simon Nemec was the hero at the United Center by completing his first career hat trick with the game-winning goal.

A lot has changed since we last saw the Devils. They had the most points in the Eastern Conference after their win. Then, Jack Hughes cut his hand at a team dinner the following night, and the season went downhill from there, as they will miss the postseason. Since losing the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, they have made the playoffs only three times over the last 14 seasons.

Tonight’s starting goaltender, Spencer Knight, will look to continue his success in New Jersey. He is 2-0-0 with a .970 save percentage (SV%) and 0.70 goals-against average (GAA) in his last two starts at the Prudential Center. He has a .918 SV% and 2.41 GAA in his last six games against the Devils.

Big Response Needed

The Blackhawks have played good hockey since the Olympic break. They have played well after losing their entire leadership group at the trade deadline. However, the last two games have made people forget the good hockey they have recently played. Back-to-back blowout losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers make those wins against the Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth feel like they happened ages ago.

A win tonight will get everyone feeling better. Coming back with a 2-2-0 record on a four-game road trip will have a much different feel than three straight losses. We’ve used the word “resiliency” a lot this season, and now is an ideal time to show some of it. This group knows how to win a hockey game, so go out and do it.

Artyom Levshunov Out

The Blackhawks recalled defenseman Kevin Korchinski this morning. This explains why he was not in the lineup for the Rockford IceHogs’ overtime win last night. He took line rushes with Ethan Del Mastro during morning skate.

Artyom Levshunov will miss tonight's game, and likely a few more, as head coach Jeff Blashill revealed he has a small fracture in his left hand. He suffered the injury during Tuesday's win over the New York Islanders. This gives a little more insight into why the rookie defender struggled in the last two games, as he was trying to play through the injury.

Levshunov will have further imaging on his injured hand when they return home tomorrow. There is no timetable for a return, but his season may be over, with only eight games left after tonight. This will give Korchinski and Del Mastro a head start on their training camp battle for a roster spot next season.

Frondell Moved Down the Middle

Anton Frondell had two assists in his first three games playing wing with Connor Bedard, but tonight he will move to the middle of the ice. He will center the second line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Nick Lardis. Frank Nazar will join Bedard and Ryan Greene on the top line.

“He hasn’t played center all year, so it’s probably not the easiest position to put him in,” Blashill said. “I recognize that. But he’s played center a lot in his life, and I think he’s got the traits to be a really good 200-foot winning center. And I’d rather get a look at it this year rather than at the beginning of next year, so that if that’s the way we go, we can hit the ground running.”

One other thing to keep an eye on tonight, the Blackhawks will experiment with five forwards on the top power-play unit. Hopefully, they get a chance to use it, but the Devils are the least penalized team in the NHL.

Season Series

11/12 vs NJD, 3-4 L (OT)
3/29 @ NJD

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Connor Bedard (30)
A-Bedard (37)
P-Bedard (67)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (11)
GWG-Bedard (5)
SOG-Bedard (199)
PIM-Louis Crevier (59)

Devils Team Leaders

G-Nico Hischier (26)
A-Jesper Bratt (41)
P-Bratt (60)
PPG-Hischier (10)
GWG-Hischier (5)
SOG-Timo Meier (238)
PIM-Brenden Dillon (64)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.55 (30th)
GA/G-3.21 (25th)
PP%-17.6 (24th)
PK%-84.5 (1st)
SOG/G-24.5 (32nd)
SA/G-30.3 (31st)
FO%-46.3 (31st)
PIM/G-9:17 (20th)

Devils Team Stats

GF/G-2.71 (27th)
GA/G-3.06 (18th)
PP%-22.0 (13th)
PK%-79.7 (15th)
SOG/G-29.8 (9th)
SA/G-27.5 (13th)
FO%-50.8 (13th)
PIM/G-7:05 (1st)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards

Ryan Greene-Connor Bedard-Frank Nazar
Tyler Bertuzzi-Anton Frondell-Nick Lardis
Andre Burakovsky-Ryan Donato-Ilya Mikheyev
Teuvo Teravainen-Sacha Boisvert-Landon Slaggert

Defensemen

Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Sam Rinzel
Kevin Korchinski-Ethan Del Mastro

Scratched

F-Sam Lafferty, F-Dominic Toninato

Injured

F-Oliver Moore (lower body), F-Andre Mangiapane (lower body), D-Matt Grzelcyk (upper body), D-Artyom Levshunov (hand)

Devils Probable Lines

Forwards

Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Dawson Mercer
Jesper Bratt-Jack Hughes-Connor Brown
Evgenii Dadonov-Cody Glass-Lenni Hameenaho
Paul Cotter-Nick Bjugstad-Maxim Tsyplakov