Blackhawks return from holiday break with daunting challenge against Stars

Chicago Blackhawks (13-17-6, 32 pts) @ Dallas Stars (25-7-6, 56 pts)
7 pm CT – American Airlines Center
TV: CHSN+ (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The National Hockey League returns from its holiday break tonight. The Chicago Blackhawks are back in action, visiting the Dallas Stars. This was going to be a tough matchup before Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar got hurt. Now, without their top two offensive threats, tonight’s game might get ugly.

The Blackhawks are coming off their sixth straight loss, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Stars lost to the Detroit Red Wings in overtime before heading into the break. That snapped their four-game winning streak, but they still have points in five straight games and eight of their last 10.

The holiday break can be an equalizer, as neither team has been on the ice since Tuesday night. It’s worse for the Blackhawks, who had to take an early two-hour flight from Chicago this morning and did not have a morning skate today. There will likely be a sluggish start to the game, so hopefully, the Blackhawks can take advantage of that and pull off a huge upset.

Landon Slaggert Recalled

The Blackhawks recalled forward Landon Slaggert from the Rockford IceHogs before boarding their jet to Texas. He had two goals and four points in his eight games down in the American Hockey League. Before that, he scored a goal in his 10 games with the Blackhawks to start the season.

This move tells me that captain Nick Foligno is not ready to return tonight. That’s not a big surprise considering the team has been off the ice for the last three days. We could possibly see him back tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but until he’s activated from injured reserve, we’ll have to keep waiting.

Stars Are Built for a Long Run

While both teams in the NHL, the Stars are in a different league than the Blackhawks right now. They play such a different brand of hockey that they could easily turn tonight’s contest into a laugher.

They are second in the league in goals per game, despite being 31st in shots on goal. You can pull that off when you have a roster full of elite scorers like Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston. Their 14% team shooting percentage (S%) is by far the best in the NHL, as no other team is above 13%.

Dallas has the second-best power play in the NHL, the seventh-ranked penalty kill, and allows the fourth-fewest goals per game. They are a complete team that can roll four lines, has a deep defensive corps, and an elite goaltender. Good thing two of the three matchups against them this season are going to be without Bedard and Nazar!

Time for Ryan Donato to Get Hot

Ryan Donato scored the lone goal against the Flyers on Tuesday night. It was his first goal in 11 games, and the Blackhawks need him to regain his scoring touch from last season, now, more than ever.

Donato has played well against the Stars in his career, with five goals and nine points in 20 games. He’s scored three goals and has a 14.3 S% against tonight’s likely starting goaltender, Jake Oettinger. That leads all current Blackhawks, as Tyler Bertuzzi is the only teammate with more than one goal against the Stars’ top netminder. He has yet to score a goal against their backup, Casey DeSmith.

Season Series

12/27 @ DAL
1/1 vs DAL
3/8 @ DAL

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 (45)

Stars Team Leaders

G-Jason Robertston (23)
A-Mikko Rantanen (37)
P-Rantanen (51)
PPG-Wyatt Johnson (14)
GWG-Sam Steel (4)
SOG-Robertson (146)
PIM-Rantanen (71)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.75 (26th)
GA/G-3.11 (17th)
PP%-20.4 (14th)
PK%-84.0 (4th)
SOG/G-25.1 (30th)
SA/G-30.5 (29th)
FO%-46.5 (30th)
PIM/G-11:10 (29th)

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-Landon Slaggert

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

Scratched
D-Ethan Del Mastro, F-Sam Lafferty

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

Stars Probable Lines

Forwards
Sam Steel-Wyatt Johnston-Mikko Rantenen
Jason Robertson-Roope Hintz-Mavrik Bourque
Justin Hryckowian-Matt Duchene-Jamie Benn
Oskar Back-Radek Faksa-Adam Erne

Defensemen
Esa Lindell-Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley-Nils Lundkvist
Ilya Lyubushkin-Alex Petrovic

Scratched
F-Colin Blackwell, F-Nathan Bastian, D-Kyle Capobianco

Injured
D-Lian Bichsel (lower body), D-Luke Krys (Achilles), F-Kyle McDonald (knee), F-Tyler Seguin (knee)

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (10-10-5, 2.55 GAA, .914 SV%, 2 SO) vs Jake Oettinger (16-6-2, 2.50 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO)