Blackhawks will lean on recent recalls against Mammoth

Chicago Blackhawks (23-29-11, 57 pts) vs Utah Mammoth (34-25-4, 74 pts)
7:30 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks and Utah Mammoth meet again tonight after a 4-0 win in Salt Lake City eight days ago. They will conclude their four-game season series on Thursday back at the Delta Center. Playing three times in 11 days should bring some extra physicality to these two games. When you consider that the Blackhawks have won the first two games of the season series, the Mammoth should be extra motivated tonight.

The Blackhawks haven’t won since beating the Mammoth last week, dropping three straight games. Meanwhile, Utah is 3-0-0 since being shut out on home ice. They have two losses in their last eight games; one to the Blackhawks and the other to the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche. Head coach Andre Tourigny was not happy after the last meeting, so look for an energized start tonight.

“I am obviously extremely disappointed about all of us: coaches and players,” he said. “I think we have to be much better. There is no reason that (game) should ever happen. That kind of effort in front of fans. I am really disappointed in us, and it is on all of us, starting with me. That cannot happen again.”

Knight Still on the Shelf

According to head coach Jeff Blashill, goaltender Spencer Knight “took a little bit of a twirl” and will miss his third straight game due to illness. Drew Commesso will likely get the start tonight after backing up Arvid Soderblom in Dallas yesterday.

Commesso’s last start in the NHL was a 3-0 shutout of the Nashville Predators on Jan. 12. This will be his first start against the Mammoth. Nobody on the Utah roster has faced him yet, so they will be having a video session this morning.

Moore’s Injury Opens the Door

The Blackhawks had to play most of Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Stars short a forward. Oliver Moore left the game early in the first period after falling legs-first into the end boards.

Moore will not be available tonight, and Blashill did not have any further updates as he will undergo further testing this afternoon. For what it's worth, when you watch the play, the injury appears to occur from the contact with the boards and not an awkward twist of the knee.

The Blackhawks will not make any recalls from the Rockford IceHogs at this time. Remember, there are limited recalls a team can make after the trade deadline. They have 12 forwards on the roster, or could go with seven defensemen again. So, either Sam Lafferty or Ethan Del Mastro will draw back in.

Moore’s absence should be an opportunity for Nick Lardis to step up. Granted, they don’t play the same position or style, but one would think Lardis will get more than the 10:08 he got on the fourth line last night. We’ll see where he slots in pregame warmups. If it were up to me, Lardis would play on the second line with Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen and move Tyler Bertuzzi to the third line. The logical guess is that Blashill dress seven defensemen tonight, as well.

Red-Hot Bert

Tyler Bertuzzi scored his team-high 27th goal of the season last night, and he's three shy of tying his career high. While he’s excelled on the road all season, he’s been turning up his game at the United Center of late. He is currently riding a season-high four-game point streak on home ice, with a goal and five points.

The newest alternate captain has an assist in six career games against the Mammoth, which came in the last game. He has one goal on six shots against tonight's starter, Vitek Vanecek.

Season Series

10/13 vs UTA, 3-1 W
3/1 @ UTA, 4-0 W
3/9 vs UTA
3/12 @ UTA

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Tyler Bertuzzi (27)
A-Connor Bedard (32)
P-Bedard (58)
PPG-Bertuzzi (10)
GWG-Bedard/Bertuzzi (3)
SOG-Bedard (165)
PIM-Louis Crevier (49)

Mammoth Team Leaders

G-Dylan Guenther (29)
A-Clayton Keller (44)
P-Keller (63)
PPG-Guenther/Nick Schmaltz (6)
GWG-Guenther/Schmaltz (6)
SOG-Guenther (193)
PIM-MacKenzie Weegar (69)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.63 (27th)
GA/G-3.17 (20th)
PP%-19.2 (21st)
PK%-85.3 (1st)
SOG/G-24.4 (32nd)
SA/G-29.3 (24th)
FO%-46.5 (30th)
PIM/G-9:17 (22nd)

Mammoth Team Stats

GF/G-3.19 (14th)
GA/G-2.75 (4th)
PP%-17.1 (26th)
PK%-78.2 (20th)
SOG/G-27.6 (20th)
SA/G-25.9 (5th)
FO%-49.6 (19th)
PIM/G-9:14 (20th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Ryan Greene-Connor Bedard-Andre Burakovsky
Nick Lardis-Frank Nazar-Teuvo Teravainen
Tyler Bertuzzi-Ryan Donato-Ilya Mikheyev
Andrew Mangiapane-Landon Slaggert

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Wyatt Kaiser-Sam Rinzel
Matt Grzelcyk-Artyom Levshunov
Ethan De Mastro

Scratched
F-Sam Lafferty

Injured
G- Spencer Knight (illness), F-Oliver Moore (lower body)

Mammoth Probable Lines

Forwards
Clayton Keller-Nick Schmaltz-Dylan Guenther
JJ Peterka-Logan Cooley-Lawson Crouse
Jack McBain-Barrett Hayton-Kailer Yamamoto
Alexander Kerfoot -Kevin Stenlund-Michael Carcone

Defensemen
MacKenzie Weegar -Sean Durzi
Nate Schmidt-John Marino
Ian Cole-Olli Maatta

Scratched
F-Brandon Tanev, F-Liam O’Brien

Injured
D-Mikhail Sergachev (lower body)

Goaltending Matchup

Drew Commesso (1-1-0, 2.50 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO) vs Vitek Vanacek (4-9-2, 2.73 GAA, .890 SV%, 1 SO)