Blackhawks snap 3-game losing skid, beat Kings 2-1 in complete game

The Chicago Blackhawks welcomed the 3-5-2 Los Angeles Kings to the United Center on Tuesday, Oct. 27, for the last contest of a seven-game homestand. The Kings, who are 30th in the league to the Blackhawk's 31st place standing, were on the second half of back-to-back games, having beat the New York Rangers 6-3 the previous contest.

The Blackhawks were looking to take advantage of some tired legs, and a team that hasn't fared much better than them to start the season. They did just that, coming away with a 2-1 victory and playing a solid all-around game. Here's the lineup details, as well as game notes and player reaction.

Blackhawks lineup and special teams

Ryan Greene - Connor Bedard - Roman Kantserov

Tyler Bertuzzi - Anton Frondell - Ryan Donato

Oliver Moore - Frank Nazar - Patrick Kane

Cole Smith - Ryan Greenway - Teuvo Teravainen

Alex Vlasic - Ian Cole

Wyatt Kaiser - Artyom Levshunov

Kevin Korchinski - Sam Rinzel

Spencer Knight/Arvid Soderblom

Extras: Mangiapane, Del Mastro, Byram (upper body)

The Blackhawks have once again made some tweaks to their forward lines in an effort to spark some success. They moved Ryan Greene to the top line, who notoriously played well with Connor Bedard last season. Greene offers more defensive responsibility on that line as well.

Patrick Kane was slotted unto the third line, playing alongside Frank Nazar. The two built some chemistry together over the summer, albeit not in a game setting. This also forces teams to be more cognizant of where Bedard is and where Kane is. It essentially spreads two elite scoring threats. Oliver Moore also drew back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch last game.

Teuvo Teravainen, who can essentially play anywhere in the lineup, was moved to the fourth line. Greenway, who's listed as a left winger, played center. Head coach Jeff Blashill said he's played center at times int the past.

Note: Greene and Teravainen were actually flipped about halfway through the game (Greene back to the fourth line and Teravainen to the first line).

On defense, Kevin Korchinski remained in the lineup (his third game of the season), meaning the D-pairings remained unchanged.

Spencer Knight got the nod in net for the seventh game in a row.

Power play units

PP1: Bertuzzi, Kane-Kantserov-Bedard, Teravainen

PP2: Greene, Nazar-Donato-Frondell, Rinzel (this unit did not play, as the top unit had possession through all the power plays)

Notable changes here include Kane and Bedard switching sides on the flanks, and Greene staying on the second unit despite Moore drawing back into the lineup. Donato served as the bumper and Nazar on the flank.

Penalty kill contributors

Teravainen, Vlasic, Nazar, Cole, Smith, Greene, Kaiser, Levshunov, Frondell

Blackhawks Game Notes

• The Blackhawks tallied the first goal in their previous two contests, but it was not to be for this contest. Less than three minutes in, the puck slide through goaltender Spencer Knight's legs when he didn't realize. It trickled into the net before he could get a handle on it. The goal was credited to Samuel Helenius and assisted by Jared Wright and Andre Lee.

• Despite giving up the first goal, the Blackhawks rallied back and put together a rather solid first frame. They were strong on the forecheck and created numerous chances. At the end of the period, shots were 10-9 for the Kings.

• Chicago wasn't awarded their first power play until there was 5:34 to go in the second period. On the man advantage, Tyler Bertuzzi had two glorious chances in front of the net. As a matter of fact, the top unit was in the zone the entire two minutes. But they had nothing to show for it on the score sheet.

• However, they were awarded a second power play shortly thereafter. It didn't take long for Roman Kantserov to cash in. He was in his favorite spot in front of the net for this fifth goal of the season, which currently leads the team. Bedard and Teravainen provided the assists.

• At the end of the second, the Blackhawks and Kings were tied 1-1 in goals, with the Kings having a slight edge at 19-18 in shots.

• The Blackhawks had to kill off a 4-minute double minor (Sam Rinzel for high-sticking) to start the third period. But they did so with relative ease. Then at the 7:17 mark of the third, Frank Nazar found defenseman Wyatt Kaiser for his first goal of the season. The secondary assist was provided by Kane, and the Blackhawks gained a 2-1 lead.

Despite the Kings emptying their net with a little over a minute to go in the game, the Blackhawks held on for a 2-1 win. The dominated in all phrases of the game, looking better during 5-on-5 play, scoring a power play goal, and being a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill

Quotable Quotes

Kaiser admitted postgame that it been a struggle through the first 11 games of the season, when the team only won three games. So this one felt good. He said the team has just had a mentality of sticking with it.

"We've talked a lot about the mentality of like, hey, the systems can be the systems, but if we're not winning our battles and really outcompeting the other team it doesn't really matter. So we've been really trying to emphasize like, hey, win your battles, compete, beat other guys. So I mean, saw a little bit of that tonight. Hopefully, continue to build off that."

Kane was super happy with how their new-look line of himself, Nazar and Moore looked on this night. "I think they can create so much with their speed, just like pushing defensemen back too, right? I mean, we had a couple of zone entries where we're pushing their D back, and it kind of just creates space for that next layer." According to Natural Stat Trick, when this line was on the ice they led 17-6 in shot attempts and 10-1 in shots.

Head coach Jeff Blashill was obviously happy to get a win. But he also felt the team won the right way. "I thought we did it in a way that was conducive to continue to win in the sense that we didn't give a lot up, we stayed on top of them, and that's the way we need to to play to be successful. Our best defense, I thought, through large parts of the game, especially in the second, was being in their zone and staying on top of them. I thought we defended pretty hard as we went through the third period, and then you win the special teams battle.

The Blackhawks now improve to 4-8-0 through their first 12 games, and hope to carry this momentum with them moving forward. They'll next head out on the road to face the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday (Oct. 29) and the Boston Bruins on Saturday (Oct. 31). Then they'll be home again next Monday (Nov. 2) to host the Colorado Avalanche before another three-game road trip.

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