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Game 15 vs Blue Jackets

February 11, 2021, 3:24 AM ET [213 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Blackhawks are now at the quarter pole of the shortened 56-game season having faced each of the Central Division foes once in two-game sets. The Blue Jackets are back in Chicago for Round 2. The home stay is short, though, before a road trip with pit stops in Detroit, Raleigh, and Columbus.

As far as series records go, the Blackhawks have lost three of them after going 0-for-Florida thanks to the Bolts and Panthers and getting swept in overtime and a shootout by the Predators. The Hawks have also won two sets against the Wings and Stars as well as splitting sets versus the Jackets and Canes.

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Game Day

Game 15, February 11:
Blackhawks vs Blue Jackets
7:00pm CST

Records:
Blackhawks, 6-4-4, 16 Pts
Blue Jackets, 6-5-3, 15 Pts

Season Series:
1-1-0

Power Play:
Blackhawks, 16-45, 35.6%
Blue Jackets, 5-38, 13.2%

Penalty Kill:
Blackhawks, 39-47, 83.0%
Blue Jackets, 24-31, 77.4%

Although the trade from Winnipeg had already occurred a few days earlier, Patrik Laine wasn't with the Jackets yet during the first Chicago-Columbus series but will this time around.

Despite a recent fiasco where he was benched for half a game, Laine still has 3 goals in 4 games as a Blue Jacket and 5 goals in 5 games overall counting his time as a Jet.

Jack Roslovic is also showing early returns from the Winnipeg-Columbus trade with 7 points in as many games. Laine, Roslovic, and Cam Atkinson form the Jackets top line.

Gustav Nyquist, Zach Werenski, and Elvis Merzlikins are injured. Also, at time of print, no players from Columbus are on the NHL COVID-19 Protocol List.

The Jackets projected lineup (per DailyFaceoff.com):

Laine - Roslovic - Atkinson
Grigorenko - Jenner - Texier
Domi - Stenlund - Bjorkstrand
Robinson - Nash - Foligno

Gavrikov - Jones
Harrington - Savard
Del Zotto - Peeke

Korpisalo
Kivlenieks

For the Chicago lineup, expect the 11F/7D format to continue unless management is satisfied with Madison Bowey getting the one game to make him eligible for the Seattle expansion draft. If the latter is the case, then the Hawks blueline could look something like this:

Keith - Mitchell
de Haan - Carlsson
Zadorov - Beaudin

One possible swap is Ian Mitchell with Lucas Carlsson to give Duncan Keith a more defensively wired partner rather than a fellow rover. Nicolas Beaudin and Nikita Zadorov as a pair will help grow the youngster's game even more as another roving all-around rearguard.

If the Hawks do go with 7D, the forwards should remain the same as Tuesday. However, if the standard 12F/6D format returns, either Matthew Highmore slots in again, Reese Johnson gets a chance to build off his impressive debut, or MacKenzie Entwistle earns his first NHL game.

Between the pipes, Kevin Lankinen is sure to get the call for both games against the Jackets. Then during the three-city road trip, Malcolm Subban should get at least one start if not two. Either way, he dresses as Lankinen’s backup. Perhaps Collin Delia gets a start during the away games.

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COVID-19 Protocol List

With Lucas Wallmark off the NHL COVID-19 Protocol List, he will likely join Adam Boqvist with just skating, practices, and off-ice training before being ready for game action.

In a blog earlier this week, various scenarios were hypothesized regarding how to slot Boqvist back on the blueline whether for the Blackhawks or possibly for the IceHogs.

In Wallmark's case, he would likely matriculate back into the starting lineup as the 3rd line center which would bump Carl Soderberg to the wing and Andrew Shaw to the other flank.

If that's the case, two of the following youngsters would play 4th line with David Kampf: Brandon Hagel, Pius Suter, or Highmore. Hagel and Suter are prime to stick.

But this assumes the Hawks roll with 12F/6D. If they go with 11F/7D instead, then only one of the aforementioned youngsters would suit up. That's tougher to pick Hagel or Suter.

Potential forward lines once Wallmark returns to a 12F lineup:

Janmark - Kurashev - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kubalik
Soderberg - Wallmark - Shaw
Hagel - Kampf - Suter
Reserve: Highmore

Potential forward lines once Wallmark returns to an 11F lineup:

Janmark - Kurashev - Kane
DeBrincat - Strome - Kubalik
Soderberg - Wallmark - Shaw
Kampf - Hagel/Suter
Reserve: Highmore

Also, keep in mind that the taxi squad has Brandon Pirri, Johnson, and Entwistle. Johnson would be next in line unless the coaches activate Entwistle for a look-see.

Pirri should enter the picture only when all other options have been exhausted. Break glass in case of emergency but thankfully there is no emergency and hopefully won't be later.

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Rockford Updates

Forward Chad Yetman has played the previous three seasons for the Erie Otters but has already inked an AHL contract so he is staying with the IceHogs which is better for his development anyway.

However, blueliners Michael Krutil and Isaak Phillips are on ATOs and would benefit more by returning to their respective OHL clubs, Kelowna Rockets and Sudbury Wolves. Both were drafted in October.

While D-man Cole Moberg didn’t play in the OHL, he did play four seasons in the WHL for the Prince George Cougars. Like Yetman, Moberg’s development is better served now at the pro level.

Sending Krutil and Phillips back to their junior teams would reduce the Hogs blueline from eight to six. Moberg would get all the ice time he can handle but there would be no reserves.

D.J. Busdeker played wing and defense in juniors for the Saginaw Spirit so he could see time on the Rockford backline. Having one more reserve would be more ideal, though.

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See you on the boards!

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