Blackhawks hope for less humbug and more holiday cheer against Flyers

Chicago Blackhawks (13-16-6, 32 pts) vs Philadelphia Flyers (18-10-7, 43 pts)
8 pm CT – United Center
TV: TNT (Burke/Pang/Hnidy)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks will host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight before enjoying three straight off days for the Christmas Break. Teams can easily get distracted heading into a game like this, but head coach Jeff Blashill expects his team to be focused and ready to go.

“It’s a nice game to win because it just sets your mood better,” Blashill said. “Ultimately, I’m able to compartmentalize that kind of stuff anyway. I think from our perspective, it’s an important game on the schedule, and I think these games can be tricky because sometimes you have your mind on other things. I’m a huge Christmas guy. I love Christmas, love being with my family, but we have a game tonight that counts equally as much as the other 81 that we play, so let’s make sure we’re ready to play.”

The Blackhawks enter tonight on a five-game losing streak and without their top two players, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. They scored four goals in Saturday's loss to the Ottawa Senators after Nazar left the game, so they’ve shown they can produce goals without their young dynamic duo. This could be a good night for Tyler Bertuzzi to break out and snap his five-game pointless streak. In 17 career games against the Flyers, he has six goals and 17 points.

The Flyers have earned points in seven of their last eight games, including a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks last night. Trevor Zegras has enjoyed a career resurgence since joining Philadelphia. He leads the team with 15 goals and 36 points, and is riding a career-long eight-game point streak.

Keep It Simple

Without Bedard and Nazar, the Blackhawks need a more straightforward approach in every game. Playing predictable and boring hockey might not be fun to watch, but it’s their best path to success. There is nobody on the roster who can make the plays their injured stars can, so it’s time to get to work.

“I think we’re going to have to be much more direct, north-south, predictable to each other, simple, less cute playmaking,” Blashill said. “We’ve lost arguably two of our top-skilled players, and so that doesn’t preclude you from winning. You just have to win a different way, and that’s kind of been our message to our guys.”

Home Ice Advantage for Kid Line

Blashill has put the “Kid Line” of Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Nick Lardis back together. Part of the reason is that they are back on home ice, and having the last change helps Blashill put them in position to succeed.

 “I think I can put them in advantageous positions,” Blashill said. “I think the best they played together was here in our building when I could kind of put them in advantageous matchups a little bit, so that’s why we went back to it. Hopefully, they can have success that way.”

Injury Report

Captain Nick Foligno was a full participant at morning skate, but when he didn’t come out to his locker stall afterward, it was apparent he still isn’t ready to play. Blashill confirmed this during his media scrum. The hope is that he can return after the holiday break.

Teuvo Teravainen blocked a shot off his foot during the loss in Ottawa, but returned to the game. He missed Monday’s practice, but he’ll be good to go tonight. He’s had a rough go of it with a puck to the mouth and now a shot off the foot. He has a three-game assist streak against the Flyers and eight goals and 25 points in 32 career games.

Season Series

12/23 vs PHI
3/26 @ PHI

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Connor Bedard (19)
A-Bedard (25)
P-Bedard (44)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (3)
SOG-Bedard (103)
PIM-Colton Dach (43)

Flyers Team Leaders

G-Trevor Zegras (15)
A-Travis Konecny/Zegras (21)
P-Zegras (36)
PPG-Zegras (5)
GWG-Noah Cates/Tyson Foerster/Zegras (2)
SOG-Owen Tippett (83)
PIM-Matvei Michkov (34)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.80 (24th)
GA/G-3.11 (18th)
PP%-21.2 (10th)
PK%-84.3 (4th)
SOG/G-25.5 (30th)
SA/G-30.6 (29th)
FO%-46.0 (31st)
PIM/G-11:10 (29th)

Flyers Team Stats

GF/G-2.94 (20th)
GA/G-2.80 (9th)
PP%-16.5 (25th)
PK%-81.8 (11th)
SOG/G-25.5 (27th)
SA/G-25.8 (5th)
FO%-49.3 (20th)
PIM/G-9:49 (26th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi-Ryan Donato-Andre Burakovsky
Oliver Moore-Ryan Greene-Nick Lardis
Teuvo Teravainen-Jason Dickinson-Ilya Mikheyev
Colton Dach-Dominic Toninato-Sam Lafferty

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

Scratched
D-Ethan Del Mastro

Injured
F-Nick Foligno (hand), F-Connor Bedard (upper body), F-Frank Nazar (upper body)

Flyers Probable Lines

Forwards
Trevor Zegras-Christian Dvorak-Travis Konecny
Denver Barkey-Sean Couturier-Owen Tippett
Matvei Michkov-Noah Cates-Bobby Brink
Carl Grundstrom-Rodrigo Abols-Nikita Grebenkin

Defensemen
Cam York-Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler-Rasmus Ristolainen
Emil Andrae-Jamie Drysdale

Scratched
F-Nicolas Deslauriers, D-Noah Juulsen, F-Garnet Hathaway

Injured
F-Tyson Foerster (arm)

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (10-9-5, 2.55 GAA, .914 SV%, 2 SO) vs Samuel Ersson (5-4-4, 3.10 GAA, .867 SV%, 0 SO)