Pre-Gamin’: Capitals at Blackhawks (7:00 CT) — Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread
The Blackhawks have had an extra couple of days off with Monday night’s game against Calgary postponed due to COVID cases on the Flames’ roster, but they’re back in action tonight against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at the United Center. Chicago topped Washington in the shootout when they met on December 2 in D.C. Patrick Kane scored the game-winner in the shootout, but Alex DeBrincat was named the game’s top star with a goal, an assist, and seven shots on goal. Seth Jones scored a goal and logged an assist, and Dominik Kubalik found the back of the net in that game as well.
First win in Washington since January 10, 2006.#In60 | @ChevyDrivesChi pic.twitter.com/CUAwKNgmqz
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 3, 2021
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: NBCSCH, ESPN+ (out-of-market)
Radio: WGN 720 AM, TUDN 1200 AM (Spanish)
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (10-15-2)
DeBrincat – Strome – Kane
Hagel – Toews – Connolly
Kubalík -Dach – Kurashev
Entwistle – Slavin – Carpenter
de Haan- S. Jones
C. Jones – Murphy
Stillman – McCabe
Fleury
Capitals (17-5-6)
#Caps center Evgeny Kuznetsov is unavailable due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 15, 2021
Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Protas
Sheary – Backstrom – Oshie
McMichael – Eller – Sprong
Hagelin – Dowd – Malenstyn
Fehervary – Carlson
Orlov – Jensen
van Riemsdyk – Schultz
Samsonov
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Henrik Borgström (IR – Non-COVID Ilness)
Jujhar Khaira (IR – Concussion Protocol)
Tyler Johnson (Three Months – Neck Surgery)
Capitals:
Tom Wilson (Day-to-Day – Upper Body)
Anthony Mantha (Day-to-Day – Shoulder)
Garnet Hathaway (COVID IR)
What To Watch For
• Dominik Kubalik has a goal in his last two games against the Washington Capitals. Kubalik also scored a goal in the Blackhawks’ previous game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
• Dylan Strome has made his way back into the Blackhawks lineup and up to the first line now. Having Strome center, the Blackhawks top line seems like a better fit than skating with the bottom lines. Strome has a goal and an assist in his last three games and two goals and three assists in 17 games this season.
• Marc-André Fleury gets the start in net tonight for the Blackhawks. The veteran goaltender logged career victory No. 500 last week in Montreal and will be honored for that accomplishment before tonight’s game at the United Center. Fleury is 7-3-0 and is fourth in the NHL with a .939 save percentage and a 1.87 goals-against average and shares second with two shutouts (min. seven appearances) since November 9.
Get Caught Up
Ah, maybe it will https://t.co/j3vsaSS5n8
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 15, 2021
Derek King on NHL's spiking COVID cases: "We had a meeting yesterday. We reminded them making sure we're distancing, try to stay away from large crowds, wash your hands… We don't want to be one of those teams that's got to rearrange schedule because we have COVID."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) December 15, 2021
Blackhawks prospects Drew Commesso, Wyatt Kasier and Landon Slaggert were named to Team USA's World Junior Championship team. Connor Kelley was among the team's final cuts.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 14, 2021
Fleury will start tonight for the Blackhawks. Kurtis Gabriel is expected to arrive today and could play this weekend.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 15, 2021
#Blackhawks place Henrik Borgstrom on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 10, with a non-COVID related illness.
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 15, 2021
