Blackhawks Game 50: Slaggert Draws In, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Lightning

Chicago Blackhawks (15-28-5, 35 pts) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (26-19-3, 55 pts)
6 p.m. CT – Amalie Arena
TV: CHSN (Ball/Chelios)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks kick off their three-game road trip at the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. These two squads just met at the United Center last Friday, with the Lightning taking a 4-3 overtime win after a dominating third period. If you recall, the youngsters led the way that night, with Colton Dach, Frank Nazar, and Louis Crevier scoring goals.

The Lightning are 13-1-1 against the Blackhawks since the start of the 2019-20 season. Tonight’s starting goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, has never lost to Chicago, going 13-0-0 with a .930 save percentage (SV%). Brayden Point has done his damage in 22 career games with 12 goals and 30 points.

According to Mark Lazerus, Nikita Kucherov took a spill during morning skate, leaving the ice in pain. However, head coach Jon Cooper said his superstar is OK and will play tonight. The Lightning will be without physical defenseman Emil Lilleberg, who is serving a two-game suspension for a hit to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher.

Landon Slaggert, who was recalled from the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday,  will make his season debut for the Blackhawks tonight. He had a goal and four points in 16 games for the Blackhawks last season. Defenseman T.J. Brodie will return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch against the Minnesota Wild. Dach and Nolan Allan will come out.

Season Series

1/24 3-4 (OT) vs TBL
1/28 @ TBL

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Tyler Bertuzzi (17)
A-Connor Bedard (30)
P-Bedard (43)
PPG-Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (3)
SOG-Bedard (115)
PIM-Pat Maroon (67)

Lightning Team Leaders

G-Brayden Point (27)
A-Nikita Kucherov (50)
P-Kucherov (73)
PPG-Point/Jake Guentzel (12)
GWG-Point/Kucherov (6)
SOG-Kucherov (163)
PIM-Brandon Hagel (40)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.59 (31^st)
GA/G-3.45 (30^th)
PP%-23.7 (9^th)
PK%-80.9 (11^th)
SOG/G-24.8 (32^nd)
SA/G-31.3 (30^th)
FO%-45.1 (30^th)
PIM/G-8:31 (20^th)

Lightning Team Stats

GF/G-3.54 (1^st)
GA/G-2.81 (10^th)
PP%-27.9 (4^th)
PK%-81.9 (7^th)
SOG/G-29.0 (13^th)
SA/G-28.4 (17^th)
FO%-50.4 (16^th)
PIM/G-8:41 (21^st)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Frank Nazar-Connor Bedard-Tyler Bertuzzi
Teuvo Teravainen-Jason Dickinson-Ilya Mikheyev
Landon Slaggert-Lukas Reichel-Nick Foligno
Pat Maroon-Ryan Donato-Philipp Kurashev

Defensemen
Alec Martinez-Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Ethan Del Mastro-T.J. Brodie

Scratched:
D-Nolan Allan, F-Colton Dach

Injured:
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), D-Connor Murphy (groin), F-Craig Smith (back)

Lightning Probable Lines

Forwards
Jake Guentzel-Brayden Point-Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel-Anthony Cirelli-Conor Geekie
Zemgu Girgensons-Nick Paul-Gage Goncalves
Mitchell Chaffee-Luke Glendening-Michael Eyssimont

Defensemen
Victor Hedman-Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh-Erik Cernak
Declan Carlile-Nick Prebix

Scratched
D-Emil Lilleberg (suspended), F-Cam Atkinson

Injured
D-J.J. Moser (undisclosed)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (6-11-3, .906 SV%, 2.97 GAA, 0 SO) vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (20-15-2, .916 SV%, 2.34 GAA, 2 SO)