NEWSLETTER
The Blackhawks (0-3-1) are back in action at the United Center this evening against the Vancouver Canucks (1-2-1). With the Blackhawks desperately searching for their first win of the season, Dylan Strome is back in the Blackhawks lineup after four consecutive healthy scratches, and Ryan Carpenter makes his way back into the lineup as well. In addition, Philipp Kurashev and Adam Gaudette are healthy scratches, and Kevin Lankinen is in net in place of Marc-André Fleury tonight.
You know, while I was putting together a post for Patrick Kane’s 1,000th game celebration tonight (more on that shortly), I got all in the feels about how intense and incredible the Blackhawks-Canucks rivalry was in the late 2000s-to-early 2010s. The Blackhawks core in its prime, Joel Quenneville, the Sedin twins, Roberto Luongo, and that pain the butt, Raffi Torres. What a time that was to be a Chicago Blackhawks fan!
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗 | 👊
Dustin Byfuglien runs Roberto Luongo, Ben Eager drills Kevin Bieksa & Alex Burrows pulls Duncan Keith's hair!
The rivalry begins!https://t.co/4dkb9TgF5i
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) March 29, 2021
Anyways, back to reality. Tonight the Blackhawks will honor Patrick Kane for playing his 1,000th game (which happened last March, but Kane requested that any celebration he held until this season when fans returned to the United Center) before puck drop, and that got me all nostalgic feeling about Kaner’s time in a Chicago sweater. So, I put together a little something for the occasion.
It’s not over yet, but when it is, it will have been one hell of a ride. Let’s take a look at some incredible moments from Patrick Kane’s career. #Blackhawks https://t.co/OHxx2aBPXt
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) October 21, 2021
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH
Radio: WGN 720 AM, WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish)
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (0-3-1)
DeBrincat – Dach – Kane
Kubalík – Toews – Hagel
Borgström – Johnson – Strome
Entwistle – Carpenter – Khaira
de Haan – Jones
McCabe – Murphy
Stillman – Gustafsson
Lankinen
Fleury
Canucks (1-2-1)
Hoglander – Pettersson – Boeser
Pearson – Horvat – Garland
Dowling – Miller – Podkolzin
Lammikko – Dickinson – Highmore
Ekman – Larsson – Poolman
Hunt – Meyers
Rathbone – Schenn
Demko
Halak
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Wyatt Kalynuk (Day-to-Day – Ankle)
Caleb Jones (Week-to-Week – Wrist)
Mike Hardman (Day-to-Day – Head Laceration)
Canucks:
Quinn Hughes (Day-to-Day – Lower Body)
Tyler Motte (Day-to-Day – Upper Body)
Guillaume Brisebois (Day-to-Day – Undisclosed)
Brandon Sutter (COVID-19)
Michael Ferland (LTIR – Head)
Brady Keeper (LTIR – Leg)
What To Watch For
• The Blackhawks’ drought of not having a lead in any game to start the season is now at 240:57, the longest such streak in franchise history. The previous? Just last season, again under the direction of Jeremy Colliton, when the Blackhawks went 226:06 before taking the lead in any game to open the season. The Blackhawks finished the 2020-21 season with a 24-25-7 record and missed the playoffs.
• Dylan Strome returns to the lineup tonight after being scratched for the first four games of the season. Strome will join Henrik Borgström and Tyler Johnson on the third line in his first start of the season as Jeremy Colliton searches for a spark offensively. The Blackhawks have been outscored 17-4 at even strength; Dylan Strome has averaged 2.29 points per 60 even-strength minutes the last three seasons, fifth-best on the team.
• Jonathan Toews has yet to register a point through four games this season and even struggled on the faceoff in Tuesday night’s loss to the Isles. The Blackhawks will need Toews to find his footing this season if they hope to turn around a dreadful start for the offensive unit.
Get Caught Up
Report: The Blackhawks Are Not Considering Firing Jeremy Colliton … Yethttps://t.co/BrSmgwSEc2 pic.twitter.com/R9D8rCugis
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 21, 2021
Dylan Strome Back In Blackhawks Lineup, Hardman Injury Update https://t.co/MJzm8SdZ60
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 21, 2021
Jujhar Khaira says the Blackhawks are “trusting each other and working through the growing pains.” pic.twitter.com/lEE4VgZ0BW
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) October 21, 2021
Jeremy Colliton on decision to scratch Philipp Kurashev: “To me he was one of our best forwards in camp and preseason. And we need him to get back to that level. Sometimes coming out is what you need to get refocused and back to the level you can play at.” #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 21, 2021
Jeremy Colliton on Dylan Strome, who will make his season debut tonight: “He's had a great attitude. Knowing his situation in camp, he's worked hard. He's prepared himself. I'm very optimistic he's going to come in and give us some energy.” #Blackhawks
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 21, 2021
