Power Up (blackhawks)

Next Game @ Blues

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Power Forward Prospects

Enter Michal Teply and Colton Dach. Neither are going to be the same level of impact players or point producers as the Tkachuk brothers Matthew and Brady but both could have the potential to be like Bryan Bickell by contributing 20 goals and chucking in apples here and there.

Teply and Dach play a power game using their big frames to make space for themselves and contest pucks along the boards. They are also volume shooters who attack the front of the net and aren't shy to park there either. More bulk is needed to be more immovable but the effort exists.

Like Dylan Strome, Teply won't win a lot of foot races but when he's there he makes things happen. One way I've described Teply before is that he's a visual paradox in that his skating is awkward and it doesn't look like he's going to be productive yet he makes plus plays in all zones.

The 2021-22 season has been night and day for Teply. He was nonexistent in the 2021 portion of the campaign (one assist in 18 games) but a switch got flipped as the calendar turned to 2022. Now, he's near a point per game (7 goals and 3 assists in 11 games) as Rockford's top right winger.

Similar to Teply, skating isn't Dach's strong suit but is an area that he's improving in his third season in the WHL after getting traded from the Saskatoon Blades to the Kelowna Rockets. Dach was a PPG player in the COVID shortened 2020-21 season and is eclipsing that pace this season.

Unlike older brother Kirby, Colton will shoot all day long and make those shots count whether he dents the twine or just gets pucks on the goalie to create havoc. Also unlike Kirby, Colton's performance away from the puck needs enhancement if he's to be reliable in the neutral and defensive zones.

In terms of when to expect them in the NHL, Teply needs one more full season in the AHL. With a cup of coffee or two next year, he should challenge for a spot with the Blackhawks in 2023-24. Dach could jump to the AHL next season and should marinate there for at least two years.

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IceHogs Game Summary

Starting Lineup

Altybarmakian - Reichel - Teply Hardman - McLaughlin - Busdeker Morrison - Yetman - Gicewicz Barratt - G Mitchell - Gabriel

Phillips - I Mitchell Stanton - Kalynuk Beaudin - Regula

Delia Morris

Abridged Boxscore

1st Goal (1-0): Teply (Reichel Altybarmakian) 2nd Goal (2-0): Teply (I Mitchell, Regula) PP 3rd Goal (3-0): Phillips (Busdeker, Hardman) 4th Goal (3-1): Gust (Cotton, Drury) 5th Goal (4-1): Hardman (Busdeker, Beaudin) 6th Goal (5-1): I Mitchell (G Mitchell, Hardman) 7th Goal (5-2): Poturalski (Fitzgerald) 8th Goal (5-3): Fitzgerald (Poturalski, Noesen) 9th Goal (5-4): Rees (Lajoie, Poturalski)

SOG For/Against: 23/47 PP: 1-for-4 PK: 6-for-6

Game Notes

* Although the Hogs gave up 47 shots on net, they killed off two 5-on-3 power plays by the Wolves and were perfect on the PK going 6-for-6.

* Ian Mitchell is exhibiting greater confidence with each passing game which has allowed him to even make subtle plays to neutralize scoring chances.

* Wyatt Kalynuk is displaying better gap control and net protection yet still needs to leverage his greatest asset more by using his top flight skating to exit the zone.

* Isaak Phillips needs to exercise more of what he did last night by flexing his muscles to clear the crease; he also showed more snarl including a shoving match with Wolves goalie Jack LaFontaine.

* A pair of big bodies in Teply (2-0) and Mike Hardman (1-2) combined for 3 goals and 2 assists; both forwards returned to the lineup after being out for medical reasons as Kale Howarth takes their spot in sick bay.

* The Hogs and Wolves battle again this evening at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

Highlights

Winter Olympics

See you on the boards!

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