Blackhawks Game 79: Young D Corps Put to Test, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Bruins

Chicago Blackhawks (22-46-10, 54 pts) @ Boston Bruins (32-38-9, 73 pts)
6 pm CT – TD Garden
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)

The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins conclude their season series tonight. In December, the Bruins beat the Blackhawks 4-2 at the United Center. The last time they played at the TD Garden, Connor Bedard scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 11, 2023. Ryan Donato looks to join the 30-goal club for the first time in his career. Scoring tonight would be extra special because not only are they in Donato’s hometown, but his 30^th goal would come against the team that drafted him.

The Bruins have won two out of their last three games after a 10-game losing streak. However, this season has not gone as planned. They have fired a coach and traded their captain, and they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

When you look at the stats below, you’ll see that the Bruins are now a one-man show with David Pastrnak leading the way. Boston is 29^th in the NHL in shots on goal per game with 26.4, despite Pastrnak averaging nearly four shots a night. The Bruins superstar has nine goals and 16 points in 17 career games against the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks will make a few changes after a pitiful 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. After getting promoted in Pittsburgh, Oliver Moore will remain on the top line with Bedard and Ilya Mikheyev. Masterton Trophy nominee Pat Maroon will return to the lineup. He will take Lukas Reichel’s place after he had a blank scoresheet against the Penguins. Frank Nazar has been promoted to the top power-play unit, giving it a well-needed boost.

On the back end, Wyatt Kaiser and Connor Murphy will miss tonight’s game due to illness. Louis Crevier and Ethan Del Mastro draw back in. Alex Vlasic enters tonight with 175 games of NHL experience. The rest of tonight’s defensive corps has 188 combined. Arvid Soderblom will start in goal tonight. He gave up two goals on 32 shots in his only career start against the Bruins last season.

Season Series

12/4 2-4 vs BOS
4/10 @ BOS

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (29)
A-Teuvo Teravainen (42)
P-Connor Bedard (60)
PPG-Bedard/Tyler Bertuzzi (9)
GWG-Bedard (5)
SOG-Bedard (186)
PIM-Pat Maroon (97)

Bruins Team Leaders

G-David Pastrnak (41)
A-Pastrnak (59)
P-Pastrnak (100)
PPG-Pastrnak (9)
GWG-Pavel Zacha (5)
SOG-Pastrnak (312)
PIM-Mark Kastelic (106)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.67 (29^th)
GA/G-3.59 (31^st)
PP%-24.0 (10^th)
PK%-80.0 (13^th)
SOG/G-24.5 (32^nd)
SA/G-31.0 (30^th)
FO%-44.9 (31^st)
PIM/G-8:40 (21^st)

Bruins Team Stats

GF/G-2.68 (28^th)
GA/G-3.29 (25^th)
PP%-15.3 (29^th)
PK%-76.9 (22^nd)
SOG/G-26.4 (29^th)
SA/G-28.8 (22^nd)
FO%-51.6 (9^th)
PIM/G-9:54 (30^th)

Blackhawks Probable Lines

Forwards
Oliver Moore-Connor Bedard-Ilya Mikheyev
Teuvo Teravainen-Frank Nazar-Tyler Bertuzzi
Nick Foligno-Ryan Donato-Philipp Kurashev
Landon Slaggert -Joe Veleno-Pat Maroon

Defensemen
Alex Vlasic-Sam Rinzel
Ethan Del Mastro-Artyom Levshunov
Kevin Korchinski-Louis Crevier

Scratched
D-T.J. Brodie, D-Louis Crevier, F-Lukas Reichel, D-Ethan Del Mastro

Injured
G-Laurent Brossoit (knee), F-Colton Dach (elbow), F-Jason Dickinson (wrist), D-Alec Martinez (hip)

Bruins Probable Lines

Forwards
Morgan Geekie-Elias Lindholm-David Pastrnak
Pavel Zacha-Casey Mittelstadt-Fabian Lysell
Marat Khusnutdinov-Fraser Minten-Vinni Lettieri
Cole Koepke-John Beecher-Jakub Lauko

Defensemen
Nikita Zadorov-Henri Jokiharju
Mason Lohrei-Andrew Peeke
Michael Callahan-Parker Wotherspoon

Scratched
F-Patrick Brown, D-Ian Mitchell

Injured
F-Mark Kastelic (upper body), D-Charlie McAvoy (shoulder), D-Hampus Lindholm (lower body)

Goaltending Matchup

Arvid Soderblom (8-18-7, .897 SV%, 3.23 GAA, 0 SO) vs Jeremy Swayman (22-28-6, .895 SV%, 3.06 GAA, 4 SO)