Blackhawks Game 65: Levshunov Debuts, Dickinson Returns, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Avalanche

Chicago Blackhawks (29-35-9, 49 pts) @ Colorado Avalanche (38-24-2, 78 pts)
7 pm – Ball Arena
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks will have another new face in the lineup tonight when they take on the Colorado Avalanche. Defenseman Artyom Levshunov was a surprise call-up on Sunday, and he will make his NHL debut tonight. He will be paired with veteran Alec Martinez and will be on the second power-play unit. Getting his first NHL taste against the Avalanche will be quite the test, but that’s why Levshunov was drafted second overall.

In addition to Levshunov’s debut, Jason Dickinson will return from his ankle injury that’s kept him out of action since Feb. 5. He will slide into the top line with Connor Bedard and Colton Dach.

The Blackhawks have won the first two games of the season series. Ilya Mikheyev has a three-game goal streak against the Avalanche. He, Bedard, and Frank Nazar scored in the 3-1 win on Jan. 8. Speaking of streaks, Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week after three straight multi-point games.

No team has changed their roster more than the Avalanche since opening night. Out are Mikko Rantanen, Nikolai Kovalenko, Casey Mittelstadt, Calum Ritchie, Alexander Georgiev, and Justus Annunen, while Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, Jack Drury, Ryan Lindgren, Erik Johnson, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Scott Wedgewood were added.

There is a huge talent gap between these two teams. The Blackhawks have two skaters with 50 points, while the Avalanche has three players with 50 assists. Colorado has eight players with over 100 shots on goal; the Blackhawks have four. However, the Blackhawks can steal their third straight win from the Avalanche because they have the edge in goaltending. Spencer Knight will start for the Blackhawks after posting a .951 save percentage (SV%) in his first two games with the team.

Season Series

10/28 5-2 @ COL
1/8 3-1 vs COL
3/10 @ COL
4/2 vs COL

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (23)
A-Teuvo Teravainen/Connor Bedard (35)
P-Bedard (52)
PPG-Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (5)
SOG-Bedard (152)
PIM-Pat Maroon (76)

Avalanche Team Leaders

G-Nathan MacKinnon (27)
A-MacKinnon (73)
P-MacKinnon (100)
PPG-Cale Makar (10)
GWG-Martin Necas (8)
SOG-MacKinnon (260)
PIM-Miles Wood (44)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.77 (24^th)
GA/G-3.47 (29^th)
PP%-25.7 (7^th)
PK%-80.9 (13^th)
SOG/G-24.5 (32^nd)
SA/G-32.0 (32^nd)
FO%-44.6 (31^st)
PIM/G-8:31 (20^th)

Avalanche Team Stats

GF/G-3.36 (6^th)
GA/G-2.95 (16^th)
PP%-24.2 (8^th)
PK%-79.0 (16^th)
SOG/G-29.6 (7^th)
SA/G-26.4 (3^rd)
FO%-45.7 (30^th)
PIM/G-8:55 (8^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Colton Dach-Connor Bedard-Jason Dickinson
Teuvo Teravainen-Ryan Donato-Ilya Mikheyev
Landon Slaggert-Frank Nazar-Nick Foligno
Tyler Bertuzzi-Joe Veleno-Lukas Reichel

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Wyatt Kaiser
Ethan Del Mastro-Connor Murphy
Alec Martinez-Artyom Levshunov

Scratched
D-T.J. Brodie, F-Philipp Kurashev, D-Louis Crevier, F-Pat Maroon

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

Avalanche Probable Lines

Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen-Nathan MacKinnon-Martin Necas
Jonathan Drouin-Brock Nelson-Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta-Charlie Coyle-Ross Colton
Parker Kelly-Jack Drury-Logan O’Connor

Defensemen
Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Ryan Lindgren-Josh Manson
Samuel Girard-Erik Johnson

Scratched
D-Sam Malinski, F-Jimmy Vesey

Injured
F-Gabriel Landeskog (knee), D-Tucker Poolman (head)

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (14-8-1, .913 SV%, 2.36 GAA, 2 SO) vs Scott Wedgewood (7-6-1, .903 SV%, 2.66 GAA, 1 SO)