Two teams without much going on in the present meet at the United Center on Saturday afternoon, with the Blackhawks hosting the Ottawa Senators.
But things are already brighter in Chicago than they’ve been for the last month, with Connor Bedard’s surprising return from a fracture jaw for Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though it was Chicago’s eighth loss in a row, the sight of No. 98 in uniform again had to raise some spirits around the organ-i-zation as it remains in last place in the league standings and four points clear of the penultimate San Jose Sharks entering Saturday’s action.
Ottawa is much farther ahead than Chicago’s 31 points in 54 games at 46 in 50, although the Senators aren’t much higher in the standings, sitting in last place in the Atlantic Division and 28th in the league overall. There’s already been a change behind the bench in Ottawa this season and Jacques Martin does have some young talent to work with while this team eyes its first postseason berth since reaching the conference finals in 2017 — although it’s almost certainly not coming this season.
The leading scorer is not young, though: it’s 36-year-old Claude Giroux with 47 points (18 G, 29 A) in 50 games. Youngster Tim Stutzle is tied with Giroux at 47 (11 G, 36 A) of his own in 50 games, followed by two more forwards in their young 20s: Brady Tkachuk and his unfortunate face (44 in 50) and Drake Batherson (39 in 50). Old nemesis Vladimir Tarasenko is also here with 14 goals and 21 assists, contributing to an offense that is eighth in the league at 3.38 goals per game this season. The blue line has some promise as well, with 25-year-old Jacob Chychrun and 21-year-old Jake Sanderson among the ice time leaders, trailing only 27-year-old Thomas Chabot. Artem Zub rounds out the top four, although both he and Chabot have dealt with injury issues this season. Zub and Sanderson have been listed as “day-to-day” recently, but both seem to be back in based on Friday’s practice:
So if the forwards are pumping in goals and the D corps has some solid names as well, why is Ottawa so far down in the standings? I’m glad you asked! You’re so smart.
It’s the goaltending. Starter Joonas Korpisalo has subpar numbers (13-17-2 record, 3.42 goals-against average, .887 save percentage) as does backup and old friend Anton Forsberg (8-8, 3.32, .892, respectively). Ottawa’s possession numbers are mostly average or below average but could certainly be worse — it seems like goaltending has been the primary weakness for Ottawa this season. The Senators enter this game as winners in six of their last nine, although they did lay an egg in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.
As for the Hawks, Bedard’s return coincided with some potential injury issues because that’s just how this season has gone. Seth Jones was out for a maintenance day on Friday while Taylor Raddysh didn’t practice. Raddysh finished Thursday’s game against the Penguins but did have one shift cut short by the apparent right quad issue which still affected him on Friday:
In other injury news, Anthony Beauvillier — who was acquired to replace an injured player and then was injured himself, because of course he was — seems closer to a return to game action:
Richardson was reportedly “hopeful” about Raddysh playing in this game but less hopeful was Lukas Reichel, who seems on his way to another healthy scratch.
Petr Mrazek seems to be the expected starter given that Arvid Soderblom played on Thursday.
Most of all, though: Bedard’s back. We don’t have much else going for us at the moment, but we’ve got that.
Let’s go Hawks.
Tale of the Tape
Blackhawks — Statistic — Senators
44.15% (31st) — 5-on-5 Corsi For — 50.28% (16th)
42.37% (31st) — 5-on-5 Expected goals for — 49.07% (22nd)
2.06 (32nd) — Goals per game — 3.38 (8th)
3.52 (t-28th) — Goals against per game — 3.62 (30th)
45.6% (31st) — Faceoffs — 50.6% (t-13th)
12.3% (32nd) — Power play — 15.8% (24th)
77.8% (t-23rd) — Penalty kill — 74.1% (t-30th)
How to watch
When: 2 p.m. CT
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Webstream: NBC Sports APP, ESPN+
Radio: WGN 720