Chicago Blackhawks News

Jones has not played since December 10th due to a shoulder injury but looks like he could return Saturday vs. Dallas after participating in full Friday at practice. The 29-year-old has struggled offensively this season with little help around him in Chicago, as he is yet to score a goal but has 11 assists, 60 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 27 games prior to the injury. He'll lineup up on first power play and the Blackhawks' top defensive pairing when he does return.

Foligno, currently on IR due to a fractured finger, has made an impact in his first season with the Blackhawks, scoring 17 points (8G / 9A) in 39 games, his best point-per-game pace (0.44) in five seasons. Foligno has also contributed an impressive 73 shots and 84 hits this season. His $4.5 million AAV next season ranks second among all forwards on the Blackhawks, only behind Taylor Hall ($6 million AAV).

Mrazek wasn't tested heavily on Tuesday and allowed two goals on only 15 shots (.867 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He will return to the crease on Thursday for his third straight start as the Blackhawks take on another difficult foe, the Winnipeg Jets, who are riding a seven-game winning streak. Considering Mrazek plays on the second-worst offence in the league (2.36 GF / GP), it is remarkable that he has salvaged a 10-14-1 record along with a .902 SV%.

Brossoit will start on Thursday for a Jets team that is among the league's best over the last month and is riding a seven-game winning streak. Brossoit and the Jets have a favourable matchup as enormous -409 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated them 2-1 on December 27th, their only loss in their last 10 games. The Jets' crease has belonged to Hellebuyck, but Brossoit has been terrific lately when called upon, allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last five starts (4-1-0), posting a gaudy .952 SV%.

The Blackhawks will be without rookie phenom Bedard for the next 6-8 weeks after successfully undergoing surgery on Monday. Bedard took a heavy open-ice hit from the Devils' Brendan Smith in the first period of Friday's game and did not return. In addition to being out for the next several weeks, Bedard will also be unable to compete at the All-Star game. Bedard's absence further hurts an already injury-depleted Blackhawks roster, whose active scoring leader is now Philipp Kurashev, who has only 23 points (8G / 15A) in 34 games.

Anderson will play for the first time since December 17th, a 10-game absence due to a left shoulder injury. Anderson has five points (0G / 5A) in 13 games this season and is expected to play on a line with Colin Blackwell and Jason Dickinson.

Mrazek will start the second straight game for the Blackhawks on Tuesday in a daunting matchup against the high-flying Edmonton Oilers. Mrazek was terrific on Sunday, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) for an injury-depleted Blackhawks squad in a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. That said, much of the Blackhawks roster remains injured heading into Tuesday's matchup, and, as such, they are significant +358 home underdogs against the Oilers, who are riding a seven-game winning streak. The Blackhawks last played the Oilers on December 12, when Mrazek allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in a 4-1 loss.

Brossoit will get the nod in the tail-end of Winnipeg's back-to-back after starter Connor Hellebuyck got the call in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Sharks. Though his usage has been sparse, Brossoit has been on quite a roll lately, posting a .946 SV% and a 3-1-0 record across his last four games. His last start came on New Year's Eve in Minnesota, when he stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced enroute to a 3-2 victory. He's in a great spot to pick up his third straight victory on Friday with the Jets being -190 road favourites over Anaheim.

Foligno fought the Devils' Brendan Smith in the second period of Friday's game and left the game shortly afterwards. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a possible timeline for his return to the lineup following the completion of Friday's game.

Bedard took a heavy open-ice hit from the Devils' Brendan Smith in the first period of Friday's game and did not return. We should expect to receive an update on the injury and a possible timeline for his return to the lineup following the completion of Friday's game.