NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Blackhawks are in a “Must-Win” mode from now on in the 2021 season. With 13 games left, nine of which are against teams in playoff position, they have to take all the points available to them, starting tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks will close their season series against Detroit with games tonight and Saturday, having already clinched the series for bragging-rights purposes.
With Calvin de Haan and Adam Boqvist out with injuries, the Blackhawks see Nikita Zadorov return to the lineup after being a healthy-scratch on Monday night. They also welcome Ian Mitchell back to the lineup after being recalled from the Rockford IceHogs. Mitchell, who hasn’t played with the Blackhawks since March 25th, has four points in 32 NHL games this season, but had been playing in the AHL after being moved out of the lineup.
Chicago holds a 5-1-0 record against the Red Wings in 2021, out-scoring Detroit 25-12 in the process. This is possibly the most important two-game set of the season series between the teams as the Blackhawks have a huge task ahead of them to try to keep pace with the Nashville Predators, who are four points ahead of Chicago in the Central Division playoff race.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, BSDET
Radio: WGN 720 AM / TUDN 1200 AM
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (20-18-5, 45 pts)
DeBrincat – Dach – Kane
Kubalík – Kurashev – Hinostroza
Hagel – Suter – Strome
Connolly – Kämpf – Carpenter
Keith – Mitchell
Zadorov – Murphy
Stillman – Kalynuk
Lankinen
Subban
Red Wings (15-23-6, 36 pts)
Svechnikov – Larkin – Zadina
Vrana – Rasmussen – Filppula
Panik – Namestnikov – Gagner
Erne – Glendening – Helm
Cholowski – Hronek
Staal – Stetcher
DeKeyser – Lindstrom
Bernier
Griess
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Calvin de Haan (Day-to-day – Hip)
Adam Boqvist (Day-to-day – Concussion)
Brent Seabrook (LTIR – Retirement)
Zack Smith (LTIR – Back)
Andrew Shaw (LTIR – Concussion)
Alex Nylander (LTIR – Knee)
Jonathan Toews (LTIR – Illness)
Red Wings:
Henrik Zetterberg (IR – Retired)
Tyler Bertuzzi (IR – Upper Body)
Robby Fabbri (Day-to-day – Upper Body)
Bobby Ryan (Out for season – Upper Body)
What To Watch For
• The Blackhawks have killed-off 13 of their last 16 powerplays against them in their last ten games. Chicago ranks 14th in the NHL on the penalty-kill since March 25th with an 81.3% kill-rate and their 16 times shorthanded ranks 1st in the league over that span. Against the Red Wings this season, Chicago has killed 13 of Detroit’s 17 powerplays, but has allowed one powerplay goal in each of the previous two meetings between the teams.
• Alex DeBrincat, a Farmington Hills, Michigan-native, has nine points against the Red Wings this season, tied for his most against any opponent in 2021. In his career against Detroit, DeBrincat has a point in nine of 12 career games. DeBrincat is second on the Blackhawks in scoring this season with 41 points in 39 games and leads the team with 21 goals. He ranks in the top-20 in the NHL in points and is tied for fifth in the league in goals.
• Kevin Lankinen starts against the Red Wings tonight as he continues to plays the role of the ace in the net for the Blackhawks. Lankinen is 4-0-0 against Detroit this season with a .962 save percentage and a 1.25 GAA. Lankinen is 3-1-0 in his last four starts, has made seven-straight starts for Chicago, and has taken the net in 17 of their last 20 games.
Get Caught Up …
Kevin Lankinen will start tonight vs. Detroit.
Ian Mitchell and Nikita Zadorov are in. Adam Boqvist (concussion protocol) and Calvin de Haan (hip pointer) are out. #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) April 15, 2021
Colliton on Red Wings: "They’re doing a good job. They've had some real nice wins here, beating some excellent teams. It’s funny when people write you off, that chip on your shoulder can help you perform at a higher level. We have to understand the challenge we have tonight."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 15, 2021
Ryan Carpenter said he got the vaccine even though he had COVID earlier this season.
Be like Ryan Carpenter.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 15, 2021
Colliton on Mitchell: "We’re excited to get him back in. It was good for him to get a bit of a break. He played some games with Rockford, had a bit more of the puck… Coming in fresh, probably hungry for the opportunity, he can definitely deliver something to our group."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 15, 2021
He says he's feeling improvement in his wrist but it's still not 100% yet.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) April 14, 2021
