The Boston Bruins are rolling into Chicago riding the high of a five-game win streak and the emotional lift of a franchise legend’s jersey retirement. After wrapping up a successful homestand capped by honoring Zdeno Chara, the Bruins now shift gears for a classic Original Six showdown at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks - a team that’s recently struggled to hold home ice.
At 27-19-2, Boston is looking to keep the momentum alive in a matchup that features more than a few familiar faces in Blackhawks sweaters. Chicago, sitting at 19-21-7, has dropped three straight at home and is hoping the return of their young star, Connor Bedard, can help spark a turnaround. Bedard, who’s posted 46 points on the season (19 goals, 27 assists), has chipped in two assists in three games since returning from injury.
Morning Skate Updates: Bruins Keep Options Open
The Bruins hit the ice for their morning skate at the United Center around 12:30 PM ET, and the session brought a few key updates - some promising, others still up in the air.
Hanson native Billy Sweezey got the call-up to the big club on Friday, marking his first NHL opportunity with Boston. The 6-foot-2 defenseman brings size and a physical edge, and while he’s not expected to jump into the lineup right away, his presence adds depth to a blue line that’s dealing with a couple of question marks.
Andrew Peeke, who exited Thursday’s game with a lower-body issue, skated this morning and will be a game-time decision, according to head coach Marco Sturm. Hampus Lindholm is also in that same category - he told reporters he’s “getting close,” but his status remains uncertain for tonight.
In net, Joonas Korpisalo gets the nod. The veteran goaltender carries an 8-8-0 record with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage. Sturm confirmed there won’t be any changes to the lineup beyond injury-related decisions.
Projected Bruins Lineup
Forwards:
- Marat Khusnutdinov - Elias Lindholm - David Pastrnak
- Casey Mittelstadt - Pavel Zacha - Viktor Arvidsson
- Alex Steeves - Fraser Minten - Morgan Geekie
- Tanner Jeannot - Sean Kuraly - Mark Kastelic
Defense:
- Jonathan Aspirot - Charlie McAvoy
- Nikita Zadorov - Henri Jokiharju
- Mason Lohrei - Andrew Peeke (game-time decision)
Goaltender:
- Joonas Korpisalo
Blackhawks Look to Snap Home Skid
Chicago has dropped three straight at home and is still trying to find consistency despite some recent flashes of offensive life. The return of Bedard is obviously a big storyline, but the Blackhawks are also getting contributions from veterans like Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev, as well as some younger pieces still finding their footing at the NHL level.
Projected Blackhawks Lineup:
Forwards:
- Ryan Greene - Connor Bedard - Andre Burakovsky
- Tyler Bertuzzi - Jason Dickinson - Ilya Mikheyev
- Ryan Donato - Oliver Moore - Nick Lardis
- Colton Dach - Nick Foligno - Landon Slaggert
Defense:
- Alex Vlasic - Louis Crevier
- Wyatt Kaiser - Artyom Levshunov
- Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Murphy
Goaltender:
- Arvid Soderblom (5-7-1, 3.87 GAA, .873 SV%)
Special Teams Matchup: Strength vs. Strength
Tonight’s game features one of the more intriguing special teams battles you’ll see this week.
Boston’s power play is humming along at 24.6%, good for sixth in the NHL. They went one-for-two on the man advantage Thursday night against Seattle, tacking on an empty-netter to seal the win. The Bruins have drawn 202 penalties this season - fifth-most in the league - so they’ve had plenty of chances to let their top unit go to work.
On the flip side, Boston’s penalty kill has been a bit of a roller coaster. While they’ve managed five shorthanded goals this season - including one against Seattle - they’ve also taken a league-high 238 penalties and sit 19th in penalty kill percentage at 78.8%. That’s a dangerous formula, especially against a team like Chicago.
The Blackhawks’ power play ranks 12th in the league at 22.2% and has been effective lately, scoring five goals with the man advantage over their last five games. However, they’ve also given one up while shorthanded in that stretch.
Their penalty kill, though, has been a bright spot - second-best in the NHL at 85.0%. That’s a big jump in difficulty from Boston’s last opponent, Seattle, whose PK ranks dead last.
Season Series and What’s Ahead
This is the second and final regular-season meeting between the Bruins and Blackhawks. Boston took the first matchup back in October with a 4-3 overtime win at TD Garden. With tonight’s game on the road, the Bruins are looking for the season sweep and a sixth straight win overall.
After tonight, Boston heads to Dallas for a tough road test against the Stars on Tuesday. Then it’s back home for a stretch of marquee matchups - the Golden Knights, Canadiens, Rangers, and Predators all loom on the schedule over the next 10 days.
Puck Drop and Broadcast Info
Tonight’s game gets underway at 8:00 PM ET from the United Center in Chicago. You can catch the action on NESN.
With both teams dealing with injuries and lineup uncertainties, and with special teams likely to play a major role, this one has all the makings of a gritty, tightly contested Original Six battle. Keep an eye on how Boston’s power play handles Chicago’s elite penalty kill - that could be the swing factor in a game where every inch of ice will be earned.