A Chicago Blackhawks Rookie Will Make His NHL Debut As The Team Tries To Finally Win Three Straight

Chicago Blackhawks rookie Landon Slaggert will make his much-anticipated NHL debut tonight when the Hawks host the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center.

The 2020 third-round pick recently signed his entry-level contract after wrapping up his senior season at Notre Dame.

He was scratched on Tuesday as head coach Luke Richardson wanted to ease in Slaggert after he went from playing for the Fighting Irish last Saturday to practicing with the Hawks three days later.

It does not hurt to give the young man at least a couple of days to take it all in especially after his college career is over and now he is a pro. Slaggert will skate on the fourth line. He will take Reese Johnson's spot after Johnson entered the concussion protocol following Tuesday's game.

Being able to play up and down the lines is one of the best assets Slaggert has. He went back to Notre Dame for his senior season to work on his offensive game. It worked as he finished with 20 goals and 11 assists. He brings that workman-like effort on the ice to be a good bottom-six player. The Hawks' brass thinks his floor is being a good third-line player while his ceiling could be skating with Connor Bedard on the top line in the future.

Taking in Slaggert making his debut is not the only thing to watch in this game.

The Chicago Blackhawks will try for the second time this season to establish an actual win streak. Remember the movie, Major League? For those that have seen it, you need to win three games in a row to have an actual win streak.

The Hawks have not done that all season.

The Blackhawks offense erupted the last two games for 14 goals in victories over the Arizona Coyotes and the Anaheim Ducks. The top line is on a hot streak. Bedard has eight points over that two-game span. Nick Foligno has four assists and Philipp Kurashev has two goals and three assists.

The only problem is the Coyotes and Ducks are bad this season. The Kings are fighting off the Vegas Golden Knights for third place in the Pacific Division and thus avoiding an opening-round playoff series with tentative top-seed Vancouver Canucks.

The Kings are 5-4-1 over their last ten games and 19-10-4 on the road. They win more on the road than they do at home with a 14-11-7 record. Establishing a win streak tonight will not be easy for the Blackhawks. Then again, nothing this season has come easy.