For the fourth straight game, despite allowing 12 goals combined in the previous three (0-3-0), the Blackhawks will likely roll with Mrazek in the crease on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. Through seven games this season (2-5-0), Mrazek is sporting a pedestrian 3.20 GAA and .893 SV%. The Blackhawks enter the action on Monday as +192 road underdogs against an Avalanche club that is riding a five-game winning streak.
Chicago Blackhawks News
Commesso was recalled earlier on Friday but is yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old netminder was selected 46th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has a 1-1-0 record and an .854 SV% in two AHL games this season. He will get the opportunity to back up Petr Mrazek as Arvid Soderblom is out with an illness.
Soderblom was originally projected to start Saturday's game in Dallas, but that is seemingly now up in the air. The recently recalled Drew Commesso will serve as the backup for Petr Mrazek on Friday night.
Commesso is yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old netminder was selected 46th overall by Chicago in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has a 1-1-0 record and an .854 SV% in two AHL games this season. Isak Phillips was sent down to make room for Commesso.
Phillips is yet to play in an NHL game this season. In 33 games with the Blackhawks last season, he registered 0 goals and 6 assists. Goaltender Drew Commesso was called up in his place.
The Blackhawks will turn to Mrazek between the pipes for a second consecutive game and for the sixth time in eight contests to start the season. Mrazek had a solid start to the season, posting a .911 SV% in his first four games (2-2-0), but allowing six goals on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The Blackhawks, outscored 10-5 in their previous two games (0-2-0), enter the action on Friday as +154 home underdogs against a Nashville Predators club that recorded their first win of the season on Tuesday (1-5-0).
Philipp Kurashev will draw back into the Blackhawks' lineup after being a healthy scratch on Tuesday, replacing Athanasiou. The 30-year-old Athanasiou has zero points in his first five games and is averaging only 9:36 time-on-ice, a steep drop from the 13:06 he averaged in 28 games with the club last season.
Despite placing second on the Blackhawks with 54 points (18G / 36A) last season, Kurashev was a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Nashville Predators and hope to improve on a disappointing start to the 2024-25 season, with one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus in six games.
Levshunov was the 2nd overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will begin his professional career with the Rockford Icehogs (AHL). The 18-year-old Levshunov had 44 points (9G / 26A) in 38 games playing collegiate hockey for Michigan State University.
Mrazek had the night off in the Blackhawks' last outing, a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but will return to the crease for the fourth time in their last five games on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. The 32-year-old Mrazek has had an impressive start to the 2023-24 campaign, posting a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV% through four games (2-2-0). The Blackhawks enter action on Tuesday as +157 home underdogs against the Canucks.
Mrazek had the night off in the Blackhawks' last outing, a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but will return to the crease for the fourth time in their last five games on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. The 32-year-old Mrazek has had an impressive start to the 2023-24 campaign, posting a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV% through four games (2-2-0). The Blackhawks enter action on Tuesday as +157 home underdogs against the Canucks.
Maroon did not play on Saturday due to a lower-body injury but should return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Maroon, in his his first season with the Blackhawks, the eighth stop of his 14-year career, is averaging 11:59 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) and 14 penalty minutes through 5 games.
After a breakout 2023-24 campaign, potting 54 points (18G / 36A) in 75 games, Kurashev will be a healthy scratch in game seven of the season for the Blackhawks on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. In six games this season, Kurashev has one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus rating.
Slaggert was a third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Indiana native made his NHL debut last season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in 16 games with Chicago.