Blackhawks Game 58, Lineup Gets Younger, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Utah Hockey Club

Chicago Blackhawks (17-32-7, 41 pts) @ Utah Hockey Club (25-24-9, 59 pts)
8 p.m. CT – Delta Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks are back in Salt Lake City for the first time since opening night to take on the Utah Hockey Club. These two teams will meet three times over the next five weeks, which should build some animosity. Utah enters tonight’s game four points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. If they want to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they absolutely need all six of these points against the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks are looking to snap their three-game losing streak and get this first win after the 4 Nations break. They’ve allowed five goals in each of the last three games, so the defensive structure needs to improve. Utah scored five goals in their opening-night victory. Nick Foligno and Teuvo Teravainen scored in that loss, with Connor Bedard recording his first two assists of the season.

Frank Nazar has been one of the better NHL rookies over the past 12 games, with three goals and nine points. He has assists in back-to-back games and was the best player on the ice against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs. Nazar will return to the top line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Connor Bedard. Colton Dach, recalled on Monday, will replace Lukas Reichel and center Ryan Donato and Landon Slaggert. T.J. Brodie will have a seat tonight, while Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan make up the third defensive pairing.

Youth will be the theme tonight as the duo of Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther leads Utah. In 19 games against the Blackhawks, Keller has 11 goals and 21 points. Guenther has four goals in three games, including two in October.

Season Series

10/8 2-5 @ UTA
2/25 @ UTA
3/7 vs UTA
3/30 vs UTA

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (19)
A-Connor Bedard (33)
P-Bedard (49)
PPG-Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (4)
SOG-Bedard (136)
PIM-Pat Maroon (71)

Utah Team Leaders

G-Dylan Guenther (21)
A-Clayton Keller (43)
P-Keller (63)
PPG- Guenther (9)
GWG-Guenther (6)
SOG-Keller (156)
PIM-Michael Kesselring (65)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.65 (28^th)
GA/G-3.49 (30^th)
PP%-25.2 (6^th)
PK%-81.2 (8^th)
SOG/G-24.9 (32^nd)
SA/G-31.6 (30^th)
FO%-45.1 (31^st)
PIM/G-8:32 (21^st)

Utah Team Stats

GF/G-2.79 (22^nd)
GA/G-3.00 (17^th)
PP%-23.5 (12^th)
PK%-80.7 (11^th)
SOG/G-28.1 (18^th)
SA/G-28.2 (14^th)
FO%-50.9 (11^th)
PIM/G-9:38 (28^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

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

Scratched:
D-Nolan Allan

Injured:
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), F-Jason Dickinson (ankle)

Utah Probable Lines

Forwards
Clayton Keller-Logan Cooley-Nick Schmaltz
Michael Carcone-Barrett Hayton-Dylan Guenther
Lawson Crouse-Jack McBain-Josh Doan
Alex Kerfoot-Kevin Stenlund-Nick Bjugstad

Defensemen
Mikhail Sergachev-John Marino
Olli Maatta-Sean Durzi
Ian Cole-Michael Kesselring

Scratched

F-Matias Maccelli, D-Nick DeSimone

Injured
D-Rob Bortuzzo (lower body), D-Maveric Lamoureux (upper body), F-Sam Lipkin (undisclosed), D-Shea Weber (ankle)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (7-13-5, .905 SV%, 3.05 GAA, 0 SO) vs Karel Vejmelka (14-15-4, .909 SV%, 2.52 GAA, 1 SO)