Blackhawks Game Day
Blackhawks Game 62: Colton Dach Promoted, Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs Senators
Chicago Blackhawks (18-35-7, 43 pts) vs Ottawa Senators (30-25-5, 65 pts)
6:30 pm – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Chelios)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)/LMN 1200 AM (Esparza/Moreno)
The Chicago Blackhawks will try for their second three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Ottawa Senators tonight. They have scored 16 goals in their last three games, and Connor Bedard didn’t factor in any of them. That is concerning for obvious reasons but also encouraging at the same time because it shows the Blackhawks don’t need Bedard to drive everything.
Bedard will have Colton Dach on his left wing tonight, with Landon Slaggert dropping down to the third line. This is not a new combination, as this trio has almost six minutes of 5v5 ice time together this season.
“We really liked his game,” interim head coach Anders Sorensen said of Dach. “He inserted himself, even in the Anaheim game, he inserted himself physically in the game. I thought he made a lot of little plays around the net in the last game. There were a couple of opportunities where he was on with Connor, and they made some nice plays to each other.”
Read More – Morning Chirps: Looking to Move Mrazek, Possible Donato Destinations
The only other lineup change will be in goal, as Arvid Soderblom gets the start tonight. The injured trio of Nick Foligno, Philipp Kurashev, and Jason Dickinson all took part in morning skate wearing green non-contact jerseys. Foligno is the closest to returning, and that could be as soon as Friday versus the Utah Hockey Club.
The Senators will be a desperate team as they enter tonight’s game one point out of a Wild Card spot. They have lost six of their last seven games and need points badly. They are in relatively good health after going through a tough stretch of injuries. Sorensen credits their defensive play for having them in the playoff hunt.
“They’re much better now, last 10 games off the rush,” he said. “So that’s something you have to watch. Obviously, that top line has some talent, and you have to watch when it’s on the ice, but it’s a really good defensive team.”
Season Series
3/5 vs OTT
4/15 @ OTT
Blackhawks Team Leaders
G-Ryan Donato (22)
A-Teuvo Teravainen (34)
P-Connor Bedard (49)
PPG-Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (4)
SOG-Bedard (141)
PIM-Pat Maroon (71)
Senators Team Leaders
G–Brady Tkachuk (23)
A-Tim Stutzle (44)
P-Stutzle (63)
PPG-Tkachuk (13)
GWG-Josh Norris/Shane Pinto (5)
SOG-Tkachuk (242)
PIM-Tkachuk (110)
Blackhawks Team Stats
GF/G-2.75 (25th)
GA/G-3.48 (30th)
PP%-25.9 (7th)
PK%-81.3 (9th)
SOG/G-24.7 (32nd)
SA/G-31.9 (30th)
FO%-44.7 (31st)
PIM/G-8:28 (21st)
Senators Team Stats
GF/G-2.82 (22nd)
GA/G-2.85 (10th)
PP%-23.5 (11th)
PK%-77.1 (19th)
SOG/G-29.8 (5th)
SA/G-28.5 (15th)
FO%-52.8 (5th)
PIM/G-9:09 (24th)
Blackhawks Probable Lines
Forwards
Colton Dach-Connor Bedard-Frank Nazar
Teuvo Teravainen-Ryan Donato-Ilya Mikheyev
Landon Slaggert -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)
Senators Probable Lines
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk-Tim Stutzle-Claude Giroux
David Perron-Josh Norris-Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig-Shane Pinto-Michael Amadio
Matthew Highmore-Adam Gaudette-Noah Gregor
Defensemen
Jake Sanderson-Atrem Zub
Thomas Chabot-Nick Jensen
Travis Hamonic-Nikolas Matinpalo
Scratched
D-Jacob Bernard-Docker
Injured
D-Tyler Kleven (lower body), F-Nick Cousins (knee)
Goaltending Matchup
Arvid Soderblom (8-15-5, .906 SV%, 3.02 GAA, 0 SO) vs Linus Ullmark (13-11-3, .912 SV%, 2.71 GAA, 3 SO)
