TV: ESPN+ / HULU | RADIO: WGN-720-AM / Latino Media Network 1200 WRTO-AM

The Blackhawks take on the Canucks for the first of three matchups this season and the only one at the United Center during the 2024-25 season. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ / HULU or listen live on WGN Radio and in Spanish on Latino Media Network radio, 1200 WRTO-AM. More information on how to watch Blackawks games can be found at Blackhawks.com/HowtoWatch.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

A former Predator, Seth Jones tallied 63 points (15G, 48A) in 199 games with Nashville from 2013-16. Forward Taylor Hall has recorded 24 points (9G, 15A) in 26 career games against Nashville, including three points (1G, 2A) over his last three games against the club. During their last meeting on April 12, Philipp Kurashev found the back of the net, while Connor Bedard registered an assist during a 5-1 loss to the Predators at the United Center.

LAST TIME OUT

Though they outshot the Canucks 34-30 in the game, the Blackhawks dropped a 6-3 decision to Vancouver on Tuesday evening at the United Center. Taylor Hall found the back of the net for his 700th career NHL point. Tyler Bertuzzi and Ryan Donato each scored once. Five other Blackhawks recorded an assist, including Connor Murphy, who now has helpers (2A) in back-to-back games. Wyatt Kaiser led all game skaters with three blocked shots and now ranks second on the club with 18 blocked shots in six games this season.

BIG AND HALL

Playing in his 839th career NHL game on Tuesday against Vancouver, Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall notched his 700th NHL point (268G, 432A) and became the fastest skater from the 2010 NHL Draft to hit the milestone, edging Tyler Seguin (700 Pts in 843 GP). He now has goals (2G) in two of his last three games and currently ranks fourth on the club with 17 shots on goal through seven games this season.

SAINT NICK

Against the Canucks, captain Nick Foligno recorded an assist and now has three points (2G, 1A) over his last four games. He now ranks fourth on the club with four points (3G, 1A) through seven games this season. On Tuesday, he also led all team skaters with three hits and now shares 12th in the NHL with 25 hits this season. He’s currently on pace for his 15th NHL season with 100+ hits.

FREDDY VS. JASON

Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson tallied an assist on Tuesday and now has two points (1G, 1A) over his last three games. He also went 13-for-16 (81.3 %) in the faceoff cirle, the best of any game skater. He also shared second among all team skaters with two hits against the Canucks and now ranks second on the club with 14 hits in seven games this season.

Alex Vlasic looks ready to take on a big role with Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Alex Vlasic in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Since then, Vlasic has played in 105 NHL games over the past four seasons, and now the 23 year old looks ready to take on a big role with the team.

Vlasic has played in a top pairing role going back to last season, but now he looks ready to add a more offensive position to his resume. Vlasic spent some time on the Hawks top power play unit during the team’s 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday night.

Vlasic was at the point of a Blackhawks power play that also featured Connor Bedard, Nick Foligno, Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen. Adding Vlasic to the power play was a big move for head coach Luke Richardson, one that could pay off if Vlasic can continue to improve on his offensive game.

With the Hawks have five power play opportunities, Vlasic played a total of 4 minutes and 45 seconds on the man advantage. His six shifts led the team and while the special teams didn’t generate any offense for the Hawks, the team did have a power play goal disallowed in the second period.

“I honestly didn’t like the way I played on it tonight,” said Vlasic following the loss. “I think they did a good job on their forecheck and we weren’t able to break the puck out the way we wanted to. A lot of that’s on me. It’s tough and I’m still trying to figure out how it all kind of works out and who I should be passing to, different openings and things like that. Yeah, I got to be better.”

Vlasic has time to figure it out. That is what this season is all about. The Hawks are not going to win the Stanley Cup this season but if they can continue to improve and develop their young players that will be a win for the year. Getting Vlasic experience on the power play is a good step – he has quickly become a real top defenseman for this team, someone they can turn to in all situations.

Connor Bedard has been struggling to find the back of the net, with just one goal in his first seven games entering last night’s contest. Vlasic helped get Bedard on the board against Nashville.

FRIDAY NIGHT BEDSY pic.twitter.com/dV0lzmR5Df

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 26, 2024

“Kind of turned my head to the middle and saw Bedsy standing wide open,” Vlasic said, “so I just kind of threw it to him and he made a nice little one-timer.”

Richardson liked what he saw from Vlasic in the offensive zone.

“That was a heck of an offensive play,” Richardson said. “I think he’s elusive, the way he skates a little bit up the ice. And he got to that puck pretty quick down the wall and made a really nice play. So it was great for him to make that play and Connor to finish it.”

Vlasic’s defensive game was what turned him into a household name in Chicago last season, and it’s what earned him a lengthy contract extension. Richardson saw that shutdown defense on Friday.

“I thought there was a couple where he picked off tonight, which we saw a little bit more of that last year, so he’s kind of getting back to that,” Richardson said. “I think people also are aware of him a little more this year, that they’re keeping pucks a little bit further wide and away from him, because he’s got that reach and intercepts pucks, but he did that in our D-zone tonight as well.”

Vlasic and Connor Murphy have spent some time together on the blue line. While Murphy isn’t an offensive threat you would expect to score a lot of goals, he sees some offensive capabilities in Vlasic.

“He’s on the power play for a reason,” Murphy said. “He’s got ability and made a beautiful pass on the goal tonight. To be able to be a two-way player like that is really important.”