NEWSLETTER
Let’s do that hockey! We are less than an hour away from puck drop for the 2021 Chicago Blackhawks season and although the outlook is not awesome for the Blackhawks, it’s still hockey. Who’s not even a little excited?
Broadcast Info
Puck drop: 7 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSN
Radio: WGN 720 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (0-0)
DeBrincat-Strome-Kane
Janmark-Wallmark-Shaw
Kubalik-Suter-Pirri
Highmore-Kampf-Carpenter
Keith-Murphy
Zadorov-Boqvist
de Haan-Mitchell
Subban
Lightning (0-0)
Palat-Point-Stamkos
Killorn-Cirelli-Joseph
Coleman-Gourde-Goodrow
Maroon-Stephens-Volkov
Hedman-Rutta
McDonagh-Foote
Sergachev-Cernak
Vasilevskiy
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Kirby Dach (Out 4-5 months – Wrist)
Alex Nylander (Out 4-6 months – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (Illness)
Brent Seabrook (Unfit to participate)
Zack Smith (IR – Back)
Lightning:
Nikita Kucherov (Out for season – Hip)
Anders Nilsson (IR – Concussion)
Marián Gáborík (IR – Back)
What To Watch For
• Malcolm Subban is making his first start for the Blackhawks tonight. After being acquired by Chicago from the Golden Knights last February, Subban played all of 1:10 minutes during the regular season and then was backup to Corey Crawford in the postseason. Subban is the most NHL experienced goalie for the Blackhawks heading into this season and he is being thrown into the fire right away against the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
• The Blackhawks will need to reverse the trend we’ve seen in the past two seasons that has Chicago giving up the most shots on goal of any NHL team in that stretch. Chicago’s team-defense should be improved on paper with the additions of Nikita Zadorov, Mattias Janmark, Lucas Wallmark, and pairing all offensive-style defensemen with a stay-at-home style partner. They’ll surely be tested against a powerhouse Lightning squad.
• Who is going to help Patrick Kane? Without Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach, Kane is going to be a focal point of the Blackhawks attack. But he’ll need plenty of help. Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat, and Dominik Kubalík will have more offensive responsibility placed on their shoulders, and they all have something to prove this season. Hopefully that bodes well for Chicago.
• Is Ian Mitchell all he’s cracked up the be? It’s just one game, his first game in the NHL, but from every indication from the front office, coaches, and his teammates through training camp, Mitchell should be able to step onto the ice tonight and be ready to go at the NHL-level. Let’s hope that’s the case.
Get Caught Up …
No Blackhawks players are on the official Covid list.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 13, 2021
"What we've seen has been good, so we want to give him the chance."
Head Coach Jeremy Colliton on giving Malcolm Subban the start in net. #Blackhawks #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/GztBDUb9AX
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2021
Dylan Strome (@stromer19) ahead of tonight's matchup against the reigning Stanley Cup champs. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/n3m5RG10y8
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2021
"Just more excited than nervous. I think I've prepared for this moment for a long time now it seems. I am ready for it."
Defenseman Ian Mitchell (@IanMitch15) is ready for @NHL Game No. 1! #Blackhawks #NHLFaceoff pic.twitter.com/aRWYDbNAsz
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 13, 2021
