The Chicago Blackhawks are preparing for a crucial matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. This game marks the second part of a back-to-back series for the Blackhawks, who had a disappointing result in their previous game against the Seattle Kraken.
Game Context
In their last outing, the Blackhawks led for most of the game but ultimately lost 3-2 to the Kraken. Controversial moments and costly errors contributed to their defeat.
Blackhawks’ Recent Struggles
The Blackhawks are facing challenges as they navigate the season. Following their latest loss, Connor Bedard received a late unsportsmanlike penalty that played a role in the team’s downfall.
Buffalo Sabres: A Team in Transition
The Buffalo Sabres sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 7-9-4, totaling just 18 points. The team has struggled with consistency, failing to meet expectations during its ongoing rebuild.
Key Players in Buffalo
Despite their record, the Sabres boast talented players like:
- Rasmus Dahlin
- Tage Thompson
- Alex Tuch
Additionally, players such as Josh Doan, Owen Power, and Jack Quinn have potential but have struggled to make a significant impact.
Blackhawks’ Lineup and Strategy
For the upcoming game against the Sabres, the Blackhawks are likely to implement an 11/7 roster strategy due to injuries. Andre Burakovsky will be absent, along with Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson.
The projected Blackhawks lines include:
- Greene – Bedard – Bertuzzi
- Moore – Nazar – Teravainen
- Dach – Donato – Mikheyev
- Slaggert – Lafferty
| Defense Pairs |
|---|
| Vlasic – Crevier |
| Kaiser – Levshunov |
| Grzelcyk – Murphy |
As the Blackhawks have only 11 forwards available, key players like Bedard and Nazar can expect increased ice time.
Viewing Information
The game will be broadcast on CHSN and can also be heard on AM 720 WGN in the Chicago area. Fans outside Chicago can catch the action on ESPN+. The puck is scheduled to drop at 6 PM CT at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
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