Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson has liked the energy and synergy of his top line, centered by NHL rookie scoring leader Connor Bedard with Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev on the wings. The trio will remain intact on Thursday night as Chicago hosts the sliding Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center. Bedard enters with four goals and six points in his last two games. He recorded his first multi-point game in the NHL, with two goals and two assists, in a 5-3 win at Tampa a week ago. Veteran winger Taylor Hall, who suffered an apparent lower-body injury late in the game against the Lightning on Nov. 9, skated on Thursday and is nearing a return. "He's really trending upward," Richardson said. Hall won't play tonight, however. See video. Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson talks about Taylor Hall's progress from apparent lower-body injury The Lightning has lost three straight games and has been shut out in the last two, 4-0 by Carolina and 5-0 at St. Louis on Tuesday. Tampa Bay hasn't scored since Steven Stamkos connected with 2:10 left against the Blackhawks last Thursday, creating a 122:10 goal-less drought. ROOS RECALLED The Blackhawks recalled defenseman Filip Roos from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League on Thursday and placed defenseman Nikita Zaitsev on non-roster. Zaitsev missed practice on Wednesday for personal reasons. He has appeared in five games this season and has one goal. The 24-year-old Roos has recorded a goal and three assists in four games with Rockford this season. Petr Mrazek, will start in goal on Thursday. See our story on the site about his resurgence this season. FORWARD LINES F1. Nick Foligno-Connor Bedard-Philipp Kurashev F2 Tyler Johnson-Lukas Reichel-Taylor Raddysh F3. Boris Katchouk-Jason Dickinson-Corey Perry F4. Ryan Donato-MacKenzie Entwistle-Reese Johnson DEFENSE PAIRINGS D1. Alex Vlasic-Seth Jones D2. Kevin Korchinski-Connor Murphy D3. Wyatt Kaiser-Isaak Phillips GOAL Petr Mrazek (starter)/Arvid Söderblom
