Chicago will meet the Sabres on Thursday night in game that was postponed by heavy snowfall and local travel restrictions in Western New York. Following some rest, the injury- depleted Hawks will try to come out with an aggressive forechecking style.
The Chicago Blackhawks spent Wednesday holed-up in their hotel in Buffalo due to heavy snow in and tight travel restrictions in the area.
Coaches and players tried to make the most of the virtual lockdown that forced their scheduled game against the Sabres to be postponed until Thursday.
"We took yesterday and used it the best way we could as a restful day the players, and let the coaches have a chance to talk to the players," coach Luke Richardson said. See video.
The Blackhawks' chartered jet landed in Buffalo at about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday following their 2-1, nine-round shootout win over San Jose in Chicago on Tuesday. As Richardson said, "it wasn't our best performance," but his team edged the Sharks behind as Petr Mrazek stopped 37 of 38 shots though overtime, then eight of nine in the tiebreaker.
Arvid Söderlblom is expected to be in nets on Thursday after the resurgent Mrazek made five straight starts. Mrazek might be in line for a contract extension as the March 8 trade deadline nears, especially after Chicago gave new two-year deals to forwards Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson this week.
Veteran defenseman Connor Murphy won't play on Thursday as he nurses a lower-body injury. D-man Nikita Zaitsev was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday after sustaining a right knee injury against San Jose.
Topped by rookie Connor Bedard, out with a fractured jaw, six Chicago forwards are on IR. The list: Foligno (broken left finger), Tyler Johnson (right foot), Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist), Andreas Athanasiou (groin) and Taylor Hall (right ACL surgery, out for season.)
Minus the skill, Richardson's team has had to resort to a grinding, aggressive forechecking style to create scoring chances. The problem is, Chicago isn't finishing the ones it gets. The Blackhawks have scored just one goal in regulation/through overtime in their last four games.
At least the Blackhawks got a chance to bond in Buffalo on their snow day, Richardson said. Now he wants them to come out with energy against the Sabres. See video.