After coming off a four-day break following the team’s 4-0 loss in Winnipeg on Saturday, the Blackhawks look to bring the energy out against the Los Angeles Kings.
Hoping to secure a win to start off the annual dads and mentors’ trip, Caleb Jones mentions that the team will have to keep up with the speed and be able to capitalize on key chances.
“We have to make sure we come out get our legs underneath us, kind of keep their crowd out of it and wait for our chances to capitalize,” Jones said.
Chicago and Los Angeles last faced each other last Thursday in a thrilling overtime game. Jonathan Toews would record the game-winning goal to secure the Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory and snap their four-game losing streak.
The main advantage that head coach Luke Richardson described to being on the road is not having to match up lines against their opponents.
“What we do is we just try and roll and let them try and match us and try and get on a good roll and get everybody involved and use our energy with all 18 skaters to kind of work things out and play them on the energy level and the work ethic level,” Richardson said.
One of the key players to focus on is Kings forward Gabriel Vilardi, who currently leads Los Angeles with 15 points (10G, 5A) through 15 games. Although he will be the player to watch, Jones points out that Chicago will have to play tight against all four of the Kings’ forward lines.
“We had to play in tight obviously I think they have a lot of good depth in their forward lines with a lot of guys that can hurt you,” Jones said. “Just be tight on them and make sure we’re in our structure and keep them to the outside and not giving them too many good chances in tight.”
Video: Jones talks about facing the Los Angeles Kings
The only change in lineup heading into tonight’s contest is the return of Petr Mrazek. The Blackhawks activated the netminder off IR on Monday after he suffered a groin strain against the Detroit Red Wings.
For Jones, he finds the return of Mrazek helpful especially with the number of injuries that have affected the team.
“It’s great to see him kind of working his way back here and getting back into form,” Jones said. “We’re going to need him here.”
Despite all the injuries, Richardson believes the team has been able to surprise everyone with the way they have played this season. He notes that the team is able to keep fighting within the game and able to make late comebacks, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do in the league.
“There’s no give up in this team and we’ve shown that early in the season with three comeback wins while down two goals,” Richardson said. “We know that we were able to do that. We just got to make sure play the games within the game, that we don’t give up that extra one because it’s hard to come back in this league.”
Video: Richardson talks about Colin Blackwell and Caleb Jone
