Blackhawks Game 80: Maroon’s Final Game, Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs Jets

Chicago Blackhawks (23-46-10, 56 pts) vs Winnipeg Jets (54-21-4, 112 pts)
6 pm CT – United Center
TV: CHSN (Ball/Pang)
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Murray)/LMN 1200 AM (Esparza/Moreno)

The Chicago Blackhawks wrap up the home portion of their season tonight by hosting the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets. They can clinch the Central Division with a point tonight. Winnipeg also holds a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy. A win by the Blackhawks will give them 16 wins on home ice and equal the amount they had last season.

It’s easy to see why the Jets are atop the NHL standings. They are third in the league in goals scored and give up the fewest. All-world goaltender Connor Hellebuyck leads the NHL in wins (45), save percentage (.925), goals-against average (1.99), and shutouts (8). He has his third Vezina Trophy all but won and is making a strong case to win the Hart Trophy this season. Offensively, the Jets are led by Kyle Connor, who scored twice against the Dallas Stars on Thursday to hit the 40-goal plateau for the second time in his career. He has 11 goals and 26 points in 25 career games against the Blackhawks.

Connor Bedard can set a new high-water mark in points if he can find the scoresheet tonight. He’s two goals shy of equaling his total from his rookie season. He’s done well in his young career against the Jets with three goals and four points in five games.

Tonight will be Pat Maroon’s final NHL game, as he won’t go on the final road trip. He smiled when reminded that his first game was played at the United Center. It will be an emotional night for the Big Rig since he will have a lot of friends and family in the building.

Connor Murphy, Wyatt Kaiser, and Alec Martinez will all return on the back end. Louis Crevier and Kevin Korchinski will come out, and Ethan Del Mastro was reassigned to the Rockford IceHogs yesterday. There is a solid chance that this is Martinez’s last game, too, but no official announcement has been made.

Season Series

10/11 1-2 (OT) @ WPG
12/7 2-4 vs WPG
4/12 vs WPG

Blackhawks Team Leaders

G-Ryan Donato (30)
A-Teuvo Teravainen (42)
P-Connor Bedard (61)
PPG-Bedard/Tyler Bertuzzi (9)
GWG-Bedard (5)
SOG-Bedard (188)
PIM-Pat Maroon (97)

Jets Team Leaders

G-Kyle Connor (40)
A-Connor (54)
P-Connor (94)
PPG-Gabe Vilardi (12)
GWG-Mark Scheifele (10)
SOG-Connor (257)
PIM-Logan Stanley (78)

Blackhawks Team Stats

GF/G-2.70 (27^th)
GA/G-3.57 (31^st)
PP%-23.8 (11^th)
PK%-80.3 (11^th)
SOG/G-24.5 (32^nd)
SA/G-31.0 (30^th)
FO%-44.8 (31^st)
PIM/G-8:38 (21^st)

Jets Team Stats

GF/G-3.39 (3^rd)
GA/G-2.29 (1^st)
PP%-29.0 (2^nd)
PK%-79.5 (15^th)
SOG/G-28.0 (18^th)
SA/G-26.9 (9^th)
FO%-49.3 (21^st)
PIM/G-7:24 (9^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
Alec Martinez-Connor Murphy
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov

Scratched
D-T.J. Brodie, D-Kevin Korchinski, F-Lukas Reichel, D-Louis Crevier

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

Jets Probable Lines

Forwards
Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Alex Iafallo
Nikolaj Ehlers-Valdislav Namestnikov-Cole Perfetti
Nino Niederreiter-Adam Lowry-Mason Appleton
Brandon Tanev-Morgan Barron-Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Defensemen
Josh Morrissey-Dylan Demelo
Dylan Samberg-Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley-Luke Schenn

Scratched
D-Colin Miller (illness), F-David Gustafsson, D-Hayden Fleury, D-Ville Heinola

Injured
F-Rasmus Kupari (concussion), F-Gabriel Vilardi (upper body)

Goaltending Matchup

Spencer Knight (16-16-2, .901 SV%, 2.69 GAA, 2 SO) vs Connor Hellebuyck (.925 SV%, 1.99 GAA, 8 SO)