Blackhawks need a quick bounce back against the Ducks

Chicago Blackhawks (12-10-6, 30 pts) @ Anaheim Ducks (17-10-1, 35 pts)
7 pm CT – Honda Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks wrap up their three-game regular-season series tonight with their only game in the Honda Center. The Blackhawks won the first two meetings in Chicago. In October, they picked up their only overtime win of the season before erasing a 3-0 deficit last Sunday night.

Last night’s 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings was a rare off-night for this team. The Blackhawks have been in nearly every game this season, so look for them to bounce back against the Ducks. Neither team held a morning skate today. Teuvo Teravainen is still considered questionable, but I doubt he plays today. With the Blackhawks off until Wednesday, this will give his mouth plenty of time to heal up before the New York Rangers come to town.

Keep Your Head on a Swivel

One would think tonight’s game might have plenty of extracurricular activities after last week’s game. The Ducks have to be mad after blowing a 3-0 lead, including scoring two goals in the first 47 seconds of the game. Don’t forget, Connor Bedard and Mason McTavish got into near the end of the game and after the final horn.

It will be interesting to see if there is any carryover early tonight. Joel Quenneville is not afraid to start his checking line early to set the tone. Expect a physical, chippy game.

Arvid Soderblom Back in Net

With Spencer Knight playing last night, Arvid Soderblom will get the start tonight. He’s had a decent year in his eight starts. His numbers are skewed because of the disaster against the Buffalo Sabres. That game ended a streak of five straight starts giving up three goals or fewer.

In his career against the Ducks, Soderblom is 3-2-0 with a 2.82 goals-against average (GAA) and .913 save percentage (SV%). Leo Carlsson has terrorized his fellow countryman during his young career with three goals on six shots.

No Such Thing as Bad Shot

Speaking of goalies, the Ducks are down to their third and fourth-string netminders. With Lukas Donstal and Petr Mrazek injured, Ville Husso and Vyacheslav Buteyets are manning the crease. Husso will likely get the start tonight. He gave up the game-winning goal to Bedard last week after replacing Mrazek.

He’s played three games against the Blackhawks in his career, winning two games with a 2.33 GAA and .865 SV%. Bedard and Matt Grzelczyk are the only Blackhawks to have scored goals against him. Time to change that!

Season Series

10/19 vs ANA, W 2-1 OT
11/30 vs ANA, W 5-3
12/7 @ ANA

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Connor Bedard (18)
A-Bedard (21)
P-Bedard (39)
PPG-Tyler Bertuzzi (7)
GWG-Bedard (3)
SOG-Bedard (97)
PIM-Colton Dach (34)

Ducks Team Leaders

G-Cutter Gauthier (16)
A-Leo Carlsson (22)
P-Leo Carlsson (36)
PPG-Chris Kreider (6)
GWG-Carlsson (3)
SOG-Gauthier (115)
PIM-Ross Johnston (50)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-3.04 (16th)
GA/G-2.93 (16th)
PP%-22.4 (10th)
PK%-84.5 (5th)
SOG/G-25.6 (27th)
SA/G-30.2 (27th)
FO%-46.9 (28th)
PIM/G-11:23 (30th)

Ducks Team Stats

GF/G-3.46 (3rd)
GA/G-3.36 (24th)
PP%-17.7 (21st)
PK%-75.8 (27th)
SOG/G-30.4 (4th)
SA/G-29.0 (23rd)
FO%-46.7 (29th)
PIM/G-10:04 (25th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

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

Scratched
F-Landon Slaggert

Injured
F-Nick Foligno (hand), Teuvo Teravainen (mouth)

Ducks Probable Lines

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

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

Scratched
F-Nikita Nesterenko, F-Jansen Harkins, D-Ian Moore

Injured
G-Lukas Dostal (upper body), G-Petr Mrazek (lower body)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (3-4-1, 3.53 GAA, .879 SV%, 0 SO) vs Ville Husso (3-2-0, 3.28 GAA, .859 SV%, 0 SO)