Blackhawks Game 54: Bedard & Co Host Nashville, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Predators

Chicago Blackhawks (16-31-6, 38 pts) vs Nashville Predators (18-27-7, 43 pts)
7:30 p.m. CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray), LMN 1200 AM (Esparza/Moreno)

The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators will get together this evening for their third of four meetings this season. The Predators have scored two 3-2 wins over the Blackhawks this season. Tonight is the final home game until Feb. 23 due to the 4 Nations Face-off.

There is some buzz on the Nashville side, as tonight will be Joakim Kemell’s NHL debut. The 20-year-old Finnish forward was taken 17^th overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

“He’s definitely stronger,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. “You could see that. I feel he’s skating well. In practice today, I thought he skated really well, and I think his whole 200-foot game has been much better. I’ve seen him in Milwaukee a little bit. They have him killing penalties, and he’s doing a really good job down there. Obviously, we all know the shot and the power-play opportunities to score. So, we’re excited to see him, and again, reiterate he’s got to be skating.”

The Blackhawks will be without Jason Dickinson, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Wednesday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It will take a group effort to fill the void he leaves behind between his faceoffs, defensive prowess, and shorthanded ice time.

Interim head coach Anders Sorensen said Dickinson would be out for some time, at least a couple of weeks after the upcoming break. Philipp Kurashev will rejoin the lineup in his absence, but replacing him will require a collective effort.

“In terms of special teams, he’s usually the first over the boards, faceoffs he’s been really good,” Sorensen said. “Utilized him a lot as a shut-down type of line there. So obviously, we miss him there, but again, it’s an opportunity for some of these other guys to earn that and show that they can handle those roles.”

Season Series

10/25 2-3 vs NSH
1/16 2-3 @ NSH
2/7 vs NSH
3/8 @ NSH

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Tyler Bertuzzi (17)
A-Connor Bedard (31)
P-Bedard (46)
PPG-Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (3)
SOG-Bedard (126)
PIM-Pat Maroon (71)

Predators Team Leaders

G-Filip Forsberg (19)
A-Forsberg (32)
P-Forsberg (52)
PPG-Steven Stamkos (9)
GWG-Stamkos (5)
SOG-Forsberg (190)
PIM-Michael McCarron (55)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.58 (31^st)
GA/G-3.43 (30^th)
PP%-23.8 (9^th)
PK%-81.4 (11^th)
SOG/G-24.7 (32^nd)
SA/G-31.6 (30^th)
FO%-45.3 (30^th)
PIM/G-8:39 (21^st)

Predators Team Stats

GF/G-2.60 (29^th)
GA/G-3.25 (25^th)
PP%-21.5 (15^th)
PK%-82.2 (8^th)
SOG/G-30.1 (5^th)
SA/G-29.4 (25^th)
FO%-51.7 (9^th)
PIM/G-9:46 (27^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

Defensemen
Alec Martinez-Seth Jones
Alex Vlasic-Connor Murphy
Ethan Del Mastro-T.J. Brodie

Scratched:
D-Nolan Allan

Injured:
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), D. Louis Crevier (concussion), F-Jason Dickinson (ankle)

Predators Probable Lines

Forwards
Filip Forsberg-Steven Stamkos-Joakim Kemell
Zachary L’Heuruex-Ryan O’Reilly-Gustav Nyquist
Tommy Novak-Fedor Svechkov-Jonathan Marchessault
Cole Smith-Michael McCarron-Colton Sissons

Defensemen
Roman Josi-Luke Schenn
Brady Skjei-Nick Blankenburg
Kevin Gravel-Adam Wilsby

Scratched
D-Justin Barron

Injured
F-Luke Evangelista (lower-body), F-Mark Jankowski (upper-body), D-Jeremy Lauzon (lower-body), F-Austin Roest (undisclosed)

Goaltending Matchup

Petr Mrazek (9-18-2, .895 SV%, 3.32 GAA, 0 SO) vs Juuse Saros (11-22-6, .901 SV%, 2.87 GAA, 4 SO)