A few bits of notes, news, and musings ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks’ game against the St. Louis Blues Saturday at the Enterprise Center.
In net for the Blackhawks, goalie prospect Jaxson Stauber will be making his NHL debut on Saturday. Alex Stalock is still in concussion protocol and Petr Mrázek has had four straight starts, so Strauber getting the nod Saturday is not unexpected.
Strauber had a rocky start in Rockford, where he couldn’t get much consistent playing time due to injuries, but he was performing well before his call-up to Chicago. His overall season numbers are not impressive — just a .898 save-percentage in 12 games AHL games — but he made a respectable 100 saves on 110 shots in his last four games with the IceHogs.
Looks like Jaxson Stauber will make his NHL debut in net tonight for the Blackhawks. He was the first goalie off.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) January 21, 2023
Otherwise, the forward lines at the morning skate were the same as against the Philadelphia Flyers and the defense simply has Isaak Phillips swapped in for Ian Mitchell.
Blackhawks in morning skate
T. Johnson-Domi-Kane
Raddysh-Toews-Kurashev
Athanasiou-Lafferty-Dickinson
R. Johnson-Entwistle-BlackwellMcCabe-S. Jones
J. Johnson-Murphy
Phillips-C. Jones— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 21, 2023
As for the Blues, it was confirmed by Vladimir Tarasenko himself that, although he is close to returning after injuring his hand back on Dec. 31, he would not play against Chicago Saturday.
Tarasenko: “I’m not going to play tomorrow. I feel better, close to coming back. I’m very excited. Every day I’m making progress, like every day feels better. It’s very close.” #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) January 20, 2023
The Blues activated Logan Brown off injured reserve but he did not participate in morning skate lines rushes. Noel Acciari, who was injured in the Nashville Predators game and didn’t practice yesterday, is expected to be in the lineup Saturday.
#stlblues projected lineup vs. #blackhawks:
Saad-Thomas-Kyrou
Neighbours-Schenn-Buchnevich
Barbashev-Acciari-Leivo
Toropchenko-Walker-PitlickLeddy-Parayko
Mikkola-Faulk
Tucker-RosenBinnington
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) January 21, 2023
Projected Lines
Blackhawks
T. Johnson — Domi — Kane
Kurashev — Toews — Raddysh
Dickinson — Lafferty — Athanasiou
Blackwell — Entwistle — R. Johnson
McCabe — S. Jones
J. Johnson — Murphy
C. Jones — Phillips
Stauber
Mrazek
Injured: Jarred Tinordi (facial fracture), Jujhar Khaira (lower back), Alex Stalock (concussion)
Blues
Saad — Thomas — Kyrou
Neighbours — Schenn — Buchnevich
Barbashev — Acciari — Leivo
Toropchenko — Walker — Pitlick
Leddy — Parayko
Mikkola — Faulk
Tucker — Rosen
Binnington
Greiss
Injured: Vladimir Tarasenko (hand), Ryan O’Reilly (broken foot), Torey Krug (lower body), Robert Bortuzzo (lower body), Logan Brown (upper body), Marco Scandella (hip), and Scott Perunovich (shoulder)