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Blackhawks Game 61: Spencer Knight Debuts, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Kings

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Chicago Blackhawks (17-35-7, 41 pts) @ Los Angeles Kings (31-19-8, 70 pts)
7:30 pm – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)/LMN 1200 AM (Esparza/Moreno)

The Chicago Blackhawks are back at the United Center tonight, looking to win two in a row after beating the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 on Saturday. The Los Angeles Kings come to town riding a three-game losing streak. The Blackhawks stole the season’s first meeting by scoring three third-period goals in a 4-3 shootout win. They took two points despite being outshot 40-21.

Tyler Bertuzzi, who had the game-tying goal in November, has three goals and seven points in his last seven games against the Kings. Tonight could be a good opportunity to increase his team lead in power-play goals. The Blackhawks scored twice on the man advantage against the Ducks and have eight power-play goals in their last five games.

Spencer Knight will make his Blackhawks debut after being acquired from the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The plan is to keep three goalies on the roster. With the trade deadline on Friday, general manager Kyle Davidson can clear up a spot with a move if one is offered. Arvid Soderblom will back up Knight, and Petr Mrazek will be scratched.

“It was my decision,” Knight said about starting tonight. “I just want to play.”

For the 39th time this season, Connor Bedard will have new linemates. He will center two guys he’s played well with individually, Landon Slaggert and Frank Nazar, but this will be the first time they will all play together.

Before morning skate, the Blackhawks placed forward Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve with a hand injury and recalled defenseman Louis Crevier from the Rockford IceHogs. Crevier will jump back into the lineup on a pairing with Alex Vlasic. T.J. Brodie will be a healthy scratch, and captain Nick Foligno will miss his second straight game with a back injury. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen said he’s still day-to-day.

Season Series

11/2 4-3 @ LAK
3/3 vs LAK
3/20 vs LAK

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (21)
A-Connor Bedard (33)
P-Bedard (49)
PPG-Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (4)
SOG-Bedard (139)
PIM-Pat Maroon (71)

Kings Team Leaders

G-Adrian Kempe (26)
A-Anze Kopitar (34)
P-
Kempe (49)
PPG-Kevin Fiala (8)
GWG-Kopitar/Warren Foegele (5)
SOG-Kempe (172)
PIM-Tanner Jeannot (78)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.72 (27th)
GA/G-3.52 (30th)
PP%-26.2 (6th)
PK%-81.1 (8th)
SOG/G-24.8 (32nd)
SA/G-31.7 (30th)
FO%-44.8 (31st)
PIM/G-8:35 (21st)

Kings Team Stats

GF/G-2.84 (20th)
GA/G-2.62 (5th)
PP%-15.3 (30th)
PK%-81.1 (9th)
SOG/G-25.6 (2nd)
SA/G-32.2 (31st)
FO%-50.9 (13th)
PIM/G-7:52 (15th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Landon Slaggert-Connor Bedard-Frank Nazar
Teuvo Teravainen-Ryan Donato-Ilya Mikheyev
Colton Dach-Andreas Athanasiou-Tyler Bertuzzi
Pat Maroon-Lukas Reichel-Craig Smith

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier
Ethan Del Mastro-Connor Murphy
Wyatt Kaiser-Alec Martinez

Scratched
D-T.J. Brodie, G-Petr Mrazek

Injured
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), F-Jason Dickinson (ankle), F-Nick Foligno (back), F-Philipp Kurashev (hand)

Kings Probable Lines

Forwards
Kevin Fiala-Quinton Byfield-Adrian Kempe
Alex Turcotte-Anze Kopitar-Alex Laferriere
Warren Foegele-Phillip Danault-Trevor Moore
Tanner Jeannot-Trevor Lewis-Akil Thomas

Defensemen
Mikey Anderson-Vladislav Gavrikov
Joel Edmundson-Drew Doughty
Jacob Moverare-Jordan Spence

Scratched
D-Brandt Clarke, D-Kyle Burroughs

Injured
No injuries

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (12-8-1, .907 SV%, 2.40 GAA, 2 SO) vs Darcy Kuemper (18-7-6, .914 SV%, 2.33 GAA, 2 SO)

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