NEWSLETTER
The Blackhawks are coming off back-to-back losses over the weekend to the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames where they were out-scored 11-2 in the process. Chicago has dropped their last four games in-a-row, their first real losing streak since Derek King took over as interim head coach. They’ll host the Colorado Avalanche, winners of seven of their last nine games coming into tonight. Colorado has played just once since December 16 after having their last seven games of December postponed.
A reminder for tonight’s game: This is the first home game for the Blackhawks at the United Center since the new vaccine requirements in the city were implemented. If you are five-years-old and up and going to the game, you will have to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status, or proof of a medical/religious exemption.
Broadcast Info
Puck Drop: 7:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+/Hulu ONLY
Radio: WGN 720 AM, TUDN 1200 AM (Spanish
Expected Lineups
Blackhawks (11-17-4)
Hagel – Borgström – Kane
DeBrincat – Toews – Kubalík
Kurashev – Dach – Entwistle
Gabriel – Strome – Khaira
McCabe – S. Jones
de Haan – Murphy
C. Jones – Stillman
Fleury
Avalanche (18-8-2)
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen
Compher – Kadri – Burakovsky
Aube-Kubel – Newhook – O’Connor
MacDermid – Jost – Helm
Toews – Makar
Byram – Girard
E. Johnson – J. Johnson
Kuemper
Injury Report
Blackhawks:
Tyler Johnson (Three Months – Neck Surgery)
Kevin Lankinen (Day-to-Day – COVID Protocol)
Reese Johnson (IR – Broken Clavicle)
Avalanche:
Valeri Nichuskin (Day-to-Day – Upper Body)
Jacob MacDonald (Day-to-Day – Undisclosed)
What To Watch For
• Marc-André Fleury is in net tonight for the Blackhawks after being placed in COVID protocol following the Christmas Holiday break. He returns to the lineup to face the highest-scoring team in the NHL as the Avalanche are netting 4.21 goals per game this season. Fleury has a 9-10-1 record this season for Chicago with a .913 save-percentage and a 2.86 GAA.
• The Blackhawks’ woes on the penalty-kill continued on Sunday against the Calgary Flames, allowing one goal on three powerplay opportunities for Calgary. Chicago ranks last in the NHL on the penalty-kill since November 7, killing just 66.1% of penalties over that span. They rank 16th in the league in times shorthanded per game (2.80) in that same timeframe. Colorado’s poweprlay ranks eighth in the league this season, converting 24.1% of the time.
• Chicago’s offense has not shown up in 2022 yet, having been out-scored 11-2 in their last two games, even though they are out-shooting opponents 69-67 in those two games. They have generated the third-most scoring chances (53) in the league since January 1, but have given up the most (64) of any team in two games. Chicago’s shooting percentage over that last two games is last among teams to have scored a goal in the new year, 2.90%.
Get Caught Up
Fleury has taken his pride in not letting teammates score to a new level, turning his net around before leaving the ice at morning skate.
He’s the first off and likely the starter tonight against the Avs. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/IC1qmXnH3L
— Carter Baum (@CarterBaum) January 4, 2022
Hagel: "Everyone sticks together even though times are tough. We’ve been saying it all year: We’ll get out of this. … There are still whatever many games left, so I don’t think we’re counting ourselves out anytime soon. We're going to keep pushing."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 4, 2022
King on PP: "We have to get more selfish and shoot pucks more, especially from up top. They’re a pretty aggressive PK, so won’t have a lot of time. When you do have the opportunity to shoot, you have to have that shooting mindset."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 4, 2022
Thought this was an interesting quote by Derek King. When he took over he didn’t think putting Strome on the 4th line was a good idea. Strome skated on the 4th line in morning skate today. pic.twitter.com/9StLc4OFaB
— Joe Brand (@Joe_Brand1) January 4, 2022
