Nick Lardis to make NHL debut in Connor Bedard's absence

Chicago Blackhawks (13-12-6, 32 pts) vs Detroit Red Wings (17-12-3, 37 pts)
7 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Konroyd)

The Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings tonight, as they go for the season sweep. The Blackhawks finished off their season-long six-game road trip with a 5-1 win in the Motor City last month.

They earned that win on a day they didn’t have their best stuff. They went 3-for-3 on the power play and got 45 saves from Arvid Soderblom. They will need more of that tonight if they want a chance to win. They will need to avoid the penalty box as much as possible. The Red Wings boast the NHL’s eighth-best power play. Seven of Alex DeBrincat’s 16 goals this season have come on the man advantage.

If you’re coming to tonight's game, be sure to get there early. Not only do the first 8,000 fans get a Chris Chelios bobblehead, but the Blackhawks are also celebrating “The Madhouse” chapter of the Centennial season. There will be a special interactive display in the atrium as well as a Q&A with Blackhawks alumni at 5:45. Pat Foley will host another special pregame ceremony after warmups. Hopefully, they skip the curtains this time.

No Connor Bedard

Last night’s 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues was made even worse when Connor Bedard was injured on the final play. He left the ice holding his right shoulder in quite a bit of pain. Head coach Jeff Blashill called the play a “freak accident.”

Bedard was ruled out for tonight’s game immediately. Blashill did not have any updates on his condition this morning, but we should know more by Monday. I’m sure some of the league’s top insiders will get the scoop before we’re told anything official.

Losing Bedard is a worst-case scenario for the Blackhawks. He’s having a Hart Trophy-worthy season and has been the main driver for the team’s offense. He has factored in 47.8% of all the Blackhawks’ goals this season.

We’ve discussed a lot recently that this team can’t rely on Bedard to do it all every night. Now, the rest of the team will be forced to step up and put the puck in the back of the net. We don’t know how long Bedard will be out, but guys like Frank Nazar, Andre Burakovsky, Teuvo Teravainen, and Ryan Donato need to find their scoring touches.

Nick Lardis to the Rescue

You’re never going to replace what Bedard does for this lineup, but you can slide in your extra forward and just run it out on the ice, either. You have to replace a goal scorer with another goal scorer. With that in mind, the Blackhawks recalled Nick Lardis, and he will make his NHL debut tonight.

Lardis scored his 13th goal of the season in last night’s Rockford IceHogs win. He leads all AHL rookies with 26 points and is second in the league in goals. This is the perfect time to give him a look.

Blashill said Lardis will be on the power play, but did not give away where he’ll fit in the lineup. If it were me, I’d play him with Nazar and Oliver Moore. He and Moore were magic together in their brief time together in Rockford. Let the kids cook.

Lardis isn’t the only Blackhawks debut we’ll see tonight. Dominic Toninato will draw in tonight, with Sam Lafferty likely coming out.

Patrick Kane Milestone Watch

Any time Patrick Kane returns to the United Center, there will be extra energy in the building. Not having him play against Bedard is a bit of a buzzkill. But the Blackhawks legend is chasing down another personal milestone.

Kane enters tonight with 497 career goals, as he looks to become the sixth U.S.-born player to score 500 NHL goals. He’ll join a pretty elite list that includes Brett Hull (741), Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513), and Joe Mullen (502).

“Showtime” scored the first 446 goals of Hall of Fame career with the Blackhawks. You know he’d love nothing more than to net a hat trick for 500 in front of the Chicago fans. He already ruined Chris Chelios’ number retirement night with an overtime goal. In a perfect scenario, Kane scores three goals, gets acknowledged by the fans, and the Blackhawks win 6-3.

Season Series

11/9 @ DET, W 5-1
12/13 vs DET

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 (41)

Red Wings Team Leaders

G-Dylan Larkin (17)
A-Lucas Raymond (23)
P-Alex DeBrincat (34)
PPG-DeBrincat (7)
GWG-Larkin (4)
SOG-DeBrincat (113)
PIM-Simon Edvinsson (44)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.94 (20th)
GA/G-2.97 (15th)
PP%-22.2 (10th)
PK%-84.0 (6th)
SOG/G-25.5 (26th)
SA/G-30.5 (28th)
FO%-46.4 (29th)
PIM/G-11:15 (29th)

Red Wings Team Stats

GF/G-3.06 (15th)
GA/G-3.34 (25th)
PP%-23.0 (8th)
PK%-79.1 (20th)
SOG/G-29.9 (5th)
SA/G-27.7 (14th)
FO%-52.1 (8th)
PIM/G-9:20 (23rd)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

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

Scratched
F-Sam Lafferty

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

Red Wings Probable Lines

Forwards
Emmitt Finnie-Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat-Andrew Copp-Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen-JT Compher-James van Riemsdyk
Elmer Soderblom-Marco Kasper-Nate Danielson

Defensemen
Simon Edvinsson-Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot-Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Albert Johansson-Travis Hamonic

Scratched
F-Jonathan Berggren, D-Jacob Bernard-Docker, D-Erik Gustafsson

Injured
F-Mason Appleton (lower body), D-Shai Buium (undisclosed)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (3-5-1, 3.92 GAA, .877 SV%, 0 SO) vs Cam Talbot (9-5-2, 3.01 GAA, .885 SV%, 0 SO)