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
Carl Soderberg is officially on the active roster now after an extended delay due to immigration red tape and the holidays. His addition moves Brandon Hagel back to the taxi squad.
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)
The good news: Brent Seabrook is skating here and there after a back injury sidelining him from training camp and the regular season. The bad news: he is still not close to being ready.
Also, the Hawks sent Brandon Pirri through waivers yesterday. If he clears, then to Rockford he goes unless he pulls a Nick Seeler. Or, Pirri gets claimed which would be no big loss.
MacKenzie Entwistle and Reese Johnson were assigned yesterday to the taxi squad. They don't need to quarantine since Hogs camp hasn't begun yet. Both practiced with the Hawks on Thursday.
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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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