Blackhawks Game #67: Slaggert’s Debut Complete With Third Straight Win?

The Chicago Blackhawks (18-43-5) host the Los Angeles Kings (33-21-11) at the United Center tonight at 7:30pm. The Blackhawks are riding a two-game winning streak and will see the debut of Landon Slaggert tonight.

Previously on Blackhawks Hockey:

The Blackhawks surprised again, but more for the fact they blasted the Anaheim Ducks 7-2 Wednesday night. It was the second straight game with seven games and saw Connor Bedard tie a 70-year-old franchise rookie record with five points in the game.

How to Watch and Listen

TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WGN 720

Scouting the Opponent & Miscellaneous Musings

The Blackhawks face one of their stiffest tests tonight in the next few games as they take on the Kings, who are third in the Pacific, but have Vegas nipping at their heels. This game is one of consequence for them while the Blackhawks can play spoiler–reveling in consecutive games of seven-goal performances.

Slaggert’s debut adds another dimension of excitement for the Hawks, too. It’s another fresh faced prospect finding his way to the big team–and one who potted 20 goals in a competitive Big 10. Reese Johnson is in concussion protocol while Slaggert skated on the fourth line wing in yesterday’s practice.

Another player to watch: Taylor Raddysh. Written as potentially a bubble player to be on next year’s roster in the recent Blackhawks Stock Index, I wrote that a strong push from Raddysh in the final slate of games could also shove him back into the conversation when contract time comes. If you’re putting me into the GM’s chair, I offer Raddysh another shot at showing this year was a fluke. He’s been terribly snakebitten and an uptick in production over these next 16 games will force the Blackhawks into a difficult choice–which is definitely a good problem to have. Raddysh had his first point in 15 games as an assist. Now he needs to find the back of the net.

Being on a line with Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Johnson should help with that. But along with Slaggert, Bedard keeping his heater alive, along with Philipp Kurashev’s recent performance, Raddysh forms another storyline to watch as the Hawks season begins to wind near its end.

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