Martinez missed the Golden Knights' previous game due to a lower-body injury and will remain out Saturday vs. Arizona as he is day-to-day. The 36-year-old veteran defender has surprisingly found the back of the net more often than normal as he has three goals, one assist, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 14 games prior to his injury.
Soderblom will attempt to snap a personal five-game losing streak Friday as he draws the start vs. Toronto at home. The 24-year-old has struggled for a third consecutive season, with his 1-6-0 record, 3.89 GAA, and .879 SV%. He will look to snap Toronto's four-game winning streak, who are seventh in the NHL in goals per game (3.53) and 11th in shots per game (31.7).
Anderson has enjoyed a fantastic start to his 2023-24 season in Rockford (AHL) with seven goals, nine assists, two PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in 14 games played and has been recalled to Chicago Thursday. The 25-year-old appeared in 24 games in 2022-23 with the Blackhawks, where he had four goals, six points, 28 SOG, and a -9 plus/minus in 24 games played.
Guttman had three goals, six assists, 16 PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus in 12 games with Rockford (AHL) and has been recalled to Chicago for a second time this season. The 24-year-old center returns to the Blackhawks, where he has a goal in three games played and is expected to center the second line as Andreas Athanasiou heads to the injured reserve.
Athanasiou has missed the Blackhawks' last five games and was placed on the injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old center has struggled through injuries this season with four assists, 20 SOG, and a -5 plus/minus through 11 games played. Cole Guttman was recalled from Rockford (AHL) to replace Athanasiou.
Brossoit will get his first start in four games as he gives Connor Hellebuyck a night off vs. Arizona. The 30-year-old who signed in the offseason after winning a Stanley Cup, has struggled to repeat his success from last season as he is 1-1-1 with a .872 SV% and a 3.25 GAA. He takes on the Arizona Coyotes Saturday, who won their last game and are 14th in the NHL in goals per game.
The Blackhawks' goalie carousel will continue Saturday vs. Nashville as Arvid Soderblom takes the crease after a shaky previous performance where he stopped 27 of 31 shots (.871 SV%) in a loss. The 24-year-old has struggled mightily in 2023-24, with his 1-5-0 record, 3.99 GAA, and .881 SV%. He draws the struggling Nashville Predators on the road Saturday, who have lost four straight games and are 21st in the NHL in goals per game (2.93).
Brossoit is coming off his first victory of the season, a 20-save performance (.870 SV%) in a 6-3 shellacking of the Nashville Predators on November 9th. As expected, Connor Hellebuyck has been a workhorse for the Jets this season, limiting Brossoit to only three starts thus far, a trend that should continue for the remainder of the season. The Jets, who have won four of their last five (4-1-0) heading into Friday, have a favourable matchup on Saturday against an Arizona Coyotes team that will be without top-six forward Baret Hayton for the next four to six weeks.
Athanasiou played only 8:48 on Thursday after suffering an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the lineup on Sunday, subsequently making him week-to-week going forward. The speedy forward was averaging 12:45 through 11 games this season, tallying four points (0G / 4A) and 20 shots on goal in the process.
Soderblom will return to Chicago's crease on Sunday after Petr Mrazek got the not against the Lightning on Thursday. Soderblom was effective his last time out, stopping 37 of the 40 shots he faced in last Sunday's 4-2 defeat to the Devils. The 24-year-old netminder owns an .883 SV% and a 3.96 GAA across five starts this season. He's little more than a desperation play today with Chicago being a +225 underdog on the road in Florida.
Brossoit will tend the twine on Thursday, marking his first action since October 28th. As expected, Connor Hellebuyck has been a workhorse between the pipes for the Jets, limiting Brossoit to only two games thus far. In those two games (0-1-1), Brossoit has a much-to-be-desired 3.38 GAA and .873 SV%. The Jets are -129 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team coming off a 4-2 loss against the Calgary Flames, in which they gave up four unanswered goals.
Brossoit will likely tend the twine on Thursday, marking his first action since October 28th. As expected, Connor Hellebuyck has been a workhorse between the pipes for the Jets, limiting Brossoit to only two games thus far. In those two games (0-1-1), Brossoit has a much-to-be-desired 3.38 GAA and .873 SV%. The Jets are -129 home favourites against a Nashville Predators team coming off a 4-2 loss against the Calgary Flames, in which they gave up four unanswered goals.
Martinez missed the Golden Knights' previous game due to an undisclosed injury but is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday vs. Los Angeles after practicing Tuesday. The 36-year-old is in his 15th NHL season and has a goal, an assist, seven SOG and a +1 plus/minus in eight games played this season. He should return to the Golden Knights' second defensive pair.
Vlasic missed the last two games in concussion protocol but will replace Jarred Tinordi in the lineup on Sunday vs. the Devils. Vlasic has picked up three assists, eight SOG and a plus-4 rating in eight games so far this season.
Soderblom was pulled after allowing seven goals on 22 shots in the Blackhawks blowout loss in Arizona on Tuesday. After a strong start to the season, where he stopped 65 of 68 shots in his first two starts, Soderblom has been torched for 12 goals on 46 shots (.739 SV%) in his last two starts. Tonight he'll face a Devils team that will be without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, but Soderblom and the Blackhawks are still +179 underdogs.
Athanasiou was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous game vs. Vegas but will draw back into the lineup for Boris Katchouk on Monday in Arizona. The 29-year-old has struggled out of the gate this season as he has no goals, three assists, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus in seven games played.
Soderblom was shelled in his previous start vs Vegas after allowing five goals on 24 shots (.792 SV%) but will take the crease Monday in Arizona. The 24-year-old has been solid this season besides the last game, as he has a 1-2-0 record, .913 SV% and 2.68 GAA. He heads to Arizona to take on the Coyotes on Monday, who are coming off back-to-back losses to Los Angeles and are 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.71).
