Blackhawks Game 69: Season Sweep Possible, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Kings

Chicago Blackhawks (20-39-9, 49 pts) vs Los Angeles Kings (36-21-9, 81 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 as they try to erase the memories of Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. This won’t be an easy task, as the Los Angeles Kings come calling tonight. They had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Minnesota Wild on Monday.

Wednesday was supposed to be an off day, but interim head coach Anders Sorensen had the team in for an “uncomfortable” video session and a quick and intense practice.

“I don’t think anyone has been happy here for the last week or so,” Sorensen said. “After the Colorado game, I felt that we were pretty good, but after that, it hasn’t been good enough by any standards. We have a lot of young players and some older guys who’ve been around. We’re just trying to keep everyone on the same page. I think the guys, for the most, are doing a decent job of it. There’s always going to be frustration from certain players here and there. I don’t think you can keep everyone happy at this team of the year with where we’re at.”

The Blackhawks can complete the season sweep tonight after winning the first two games against the Kings. The last time out, on March 3, Spencer Knight made his Blackhawks debut and made 41 saves in a 5-1 victory. Tyler Bertuzzi, who had a goal and assist on Tuesday, has four goals and seven points in his last seven games versus Los Angeles.

There was no morning skate today, so we won’t have lineup confirmation until Sorensen meets the media at 5 pm. Based on yesterday’s practice, Jason Dickinson will play on the top line with Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. The veteran forward will look to have a breakout game after venting his frustration on Tuesday.

Season Series

11/2 4-3 @ LAK
3/3 5-1 vs LAK
3/20 vs LAK

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (23)
A-Teuvo Teravainen (37)
P-Connor Bedard (53)
PPG-Bedard/Tyler Bertuzzi (8)
GWG-Bedard (5)
SOG-Bedard (163)
PIM-Pat Maroon (81)

Kings Team Leaders

G-Adrian Kempe (28)
A-Anze Kopitar (37)
P-Kempe (55)
PPG-Kevin Fiala (9)
GWG-Warren Foegele (6)
SOG-Kempe (194)
PIM-Tanner Jeannot (82)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.69 (28^th)
GA/G-3.54 (30^th)
PP%-24.8 (8^th)
PK%-81.2 (12^th)
SOG/G-24.4 (32^nd)
SA/G-31.5 (30^th)
FO%-45.1 (31^st)
PIM/G-8:52 (24^th)

Kings Team Stats

GF/G-2.80 (21^st)
GA/G-2.56 (3^rd)
PP%-15.5 (28^th)
PK%-81.7 (9^th)
SOG/G-27.9 (19^th)
SA/G-25.6 (2^nd)
FO%-50.5 (15^th)
PIM/G-7:50 (14^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

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

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)

Kings Probable Lines

Forwards
Andrei Kuzmenko-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala-Quinton Byfield-Alex Laferriere
Warren Foegele-Phillip Danault-Trevor Moore
Tanner Jeannot-Samuel Helenius-Alex Turcotte

Defensemen
Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty
Vladislav Gavrikov-Jordan Spence
Joel Edmundson-Brandt Clarke

Scratched
F-Trevor Lewis, F-Akil Thomas, D-Kyle Burroughs, D-Jacob Moverare

Injured
None

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (14-11-1, .906 SV%, 2.51 GAA, 2 SO) vs Darcy Kuemper (22-9-7, .918 SV%, 2.16 GAA, 4 SO)