John Hayden will likely make his NHL debut for the Chicago Blackhawks when the team visits the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre.
Hayden, who signed a two-year contract earlier this week after completing his senior season at Yale, is projected to skate on the top line with Richard Panik and Jonathan Toews. The 22-year-old right-handed shot posted career-high numbers for the Bulldogs this season with 21 goals and 13 assists in 33 games.
Nick Schmaltz will move into the second-line center spot after Artem Anisimov was lost for three to four weeks with a lower-body injury in Tuesday’s win at Montreal.
Patrick Kane scored a goal and two assists in Chicago’s 4-2 win over the Canadiens. The victory pushed the Hawks past Minnesota and into first place in the Central Division. Kane also moved into a tie for the NHL scoring lead with 76 points. If Kane pulls away from the field, he’d be the first player in 16 years to win back-to-back Art Ross trophies.
Erik Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, leads the Senators offensively in points (62) and assists (49). Mike Hoffman has been Mr. Clutch for Ottawa with eight game-winning goals and 12 power-play goals.
The Senators announced Wednesday goaltender Craig Anderson, a 2001 Chicago draft pick and Barrington alumnus, will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Mike Condon will start for the Senators. Condon made 23 saves in Ottawa’s 4-3 win Dec. 20, 2016 in Chicago, the only game between the two teams this season.
The teams split last season’s series with each team winning on home ice.
For more on the Senators, visit Silver Seven Sens.
Lineups
Blackhawks
Forwards
Panik-Toews-Hayden
Panarin-Schmaltz-Kane
Hartman-Kero-Hossa
Desjardins-Kruger-Tootoo
Defensemen
Keith-Seabrook
Campbell-van Riemsdyk
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Goalies
Crawford
Darling
Senators
Forwards
Dzingel-Turris-Ryan
Burrows-Brassard-Smith
Hoffman-Pageau-Pyatt
Stalberg-Kelly-Wingels
Defensemen
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Claesson-Wideman
Goalies
Condon
Driedger
*Lines will be updated if necessary
How to watch Blackhawks at Senators
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
TV: CSN Chicago