Chicago is 0-17-1 in last 18 road games. Edmonton has won 14 straight, a record for a Canadian NHL team.
Petr Mrazek will be back in goal for the first time since signing a two-year contract extension when the the sliding Chicago Blackhawks face the surging Oilers in Edmonton on Thursday.
Mrazek celebrates a 2-1 shootout win over San Jose.Chicago, 0-17-1 in its last 18 road games, may need perfection from Mrazek, whose new deal runs through 2025-26 and pays $4.25 annually. The Blackhawks will play the second of back-to-back games at Edmonton after a 6-2 defeat Wednesday at Seattle with backup Arvid Söderblom in nets.
Injury-depleted Chicago hasn't won on the road since a 5-3 win at Tampa Bay on Nov. 9 when NHL rookie leading scorer Connor Bedard posted two goals and two assists against the Lightning.
Bedard, who suffered a broken jaw on Jan. 5 at New Jersey, is one of five Chicago forwards on injured reserve. Taylor Hall (right ACL surgery) Tyler Johnson (right foot), Andreas Athanasiou (groin) and Anthony Beauvillier (left wrist) are the others.
The Oilers have won 14 straight to set a record for a Canadian NHL team. Although led by big-name scorers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton has fashioned its run with defense. The Oilers have allowed two or fewer goals in 12 straight games, a team record.
Mrazek Healthy Again
Healthy after two years of battling a groin injury, the 31-year-old Mrazek has emerged as Chicago's No. 1 goalie with a 12-17-1 record, .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average in 32 games this season.
The Czech netminder's save percentage ranks sixth among all goalies who have played in 32 or more games. His 3.01 goals-against is eighth.
Mrazek has been terrific lately. In seven starts since Bedard suffered his broken jaw, the goalie is 3-4-0 with a 2.15 GAA and .924 save percentage.
Chicago's 18 straight road losses are tied for the fourth-longest single-season streak in NHL history, along with Pittsburgh (1982-83), Quebec (1989-90) and San Jose (1992-93). The Blackhawk had an 0-18-1 road slide in 2003-04.
Reichel Back
Forward Lukas Reichel, who has just three goals and six assists in 45 games, will be back in Chicago's lineup after being benched the past two games
Chicago's first-round draft pick in 2020, the 21-year-old Reichel was considered the Blackhawks top prospect before they took Bedard with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.