The Blackhawks start a new game set versus the Red Wings with tonight's home opener and a Sunday matinee. The homestand is short as the Hawks then depart to Nashville for a deuce.
Regardless of who the opponent is and whether the Hawks are at home or away, tonight is a new game which means it's anyone's guess as to who will be the starting goalie.
Collin Delia has a pair of starts already so the likelihood is high that it will be either Kevin Lankinen in back-to-back starts or Malcolm Subban who hasn't played since Game 1.
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Game Day
Game 5, January 22: Blackhawks vs Red Wings 7:00pm CST
Records: Blackhawks, 0-3-1, 1 Pts Red Wings, 2-2-0, 4 Pts
Season Series: 0-0-0
Power Play: Blackhawks, 5-12, 41.7% Red Wings, 1-7, 14.3%
Penalty Kill: Blackhawks, 10-15, 66.7% Red Wings, 9-11, 81.8%
Robby Fabbri, Adam Erne, Sam Gagner, and Jon Merrill will sit out for the Wings as they are on the league's COVID-19 protocol list. Darren Helm and Christian Djoos may be slotting in.
In addition to free agent Bobby Ryan storming out of the gate with 4 goals in 3 games, the Wings top forwards Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Anthony Mantha are performing as such.
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Roster Updates
It was a longer road than he had hoped, but Carl Soderberg officially joined the team today for his first full practice.#Blackhawkshttps://t.co/SHQaVQuCHr
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 22, 2021
Although the starting lineup wasn't available at time of print, there is a strong chance that Soderberg makes his Hawks debut tonight. If not, then probably on Sunday instead.
Here are a few line combinations to consider out of many permutations when inserting Soderberg:
DeBrincat - Soderberg - Kane Kubalik - Strome - Kurashev Suter - Wallmark - Shaw Highmore - Kampf - Carpenter (Janmark sits)
DeBrincat - Suter - Kane Kubalik - Strome - Kurashev Shaw - Wallmark - Soderberg Highmore - Kampf - Carpenter (Janmark sits)
DeBrincat - Soderberg - Kane Suter - Strome - Kubalik Janmark - Wallmark - Shaw Highmore - Kampf - Carpenter (Kurashev sits)
Jeremy Colliton said Brent Seabrook was on the ice "off and on" while the #Blackhawks were on the road.
— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) January 21, 2021
Brandon Pirri's on waivers. Interesting. Wonder if someone picks him up.#Blackhawks
— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) January 21, 2021
ROSTER MOVES: Forwards MacKenzie Entwistle and Reese Johnson have been added to the taxi squad. @Enterprise | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/FiisLNExCM
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 21, 2021
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Player Capsules
Adam Boqvist
Despite being justly criticized for his tentativeness at both ends of the ice, Adam Boqvist has quietly picked up 3 assists in 4 games which is one apple behind Duncan Keith.
One way to think about Boqvist's current situation is if he can still produce points while struggling, just think how his output may be once he is firing on all cylinders.
Dominik Kubalik
The power play units may have a new look as Dominik Kubalik moved from PP2 to PP1 at least in practice. With him heating up offensively, Kubalik deserves to be on the first unit.
There should also hopefully be an uptick in Kubalik's overall ice time with PP1 duty and possible more ES deployment. His TOI may naturally be lower, though, as he doesn't kill penalties.
Ryan Carpenter
While he may have a limited skill set, Ryan Carpenter is just like Andrew Shaw in bringing his hard hat and lunch pail to the rink each day to lead by example for the young Hawks.
In an unheralded role, Carpenter has been playing the body, generating scoring chances in the bottom 6, killing penalties, and putting in effort in his own end.
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Hogs Updates
The AHL will be releasing the full 2021 game schedules today at 11:00am CST. Like the NHL, it is expected that teams will play within their own divisions during the regular season.
On Wednesday, the Hogs restocked the thinned out D corps by bringing on 2019 draft pick Cole Moberg (PTO) and 2020 draft picks Michael Krutil and Isaak Phillips (ATOs).
With this trio of rookie defensemen potentially in the fold plus Entwistle and Johnson called up and Pirri sent down, here is a recalibration of a possible Hogs roster:
Forwards
Quenneville - Pirri - Altybarmakian Teply - Barratt - C Morrison Soderlund - B Morrison - Yetman Chalupa - Hakkarainen - Busdeker
Spare forwards (on AHL contracts) LW: Garrett Mitchell, Mitch Fossier, Riley McKay C: Dylan McLaughlin, Mathew Thompson RW: Gabriel Gagne, Chris Wilkie
Defensemen
Krys - Regula Phillips - Franson Lindholm - Moberg Osipov - Krutil
Goalies
Tomkins Morris
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See you on the boards!