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The Chicago Blackhawks begin a challenging road trip on Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers searching for their first victory away from the United Center. Entering the matchup with a 4-9-1 record and a 0-5-1 away mark, the Blackhawks face three of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, starting in Florida before heading to face the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Scouting Florida
The Florida Panthers enter the contest at 8-5-2 after recently playing at the United Center, where Lars Eller scored a late goal in the third period to secure a 2-2 regulation win for Florida. Despite missing captain Aleksander Barkov due to an injury, the Panthers maintain a deep roster featuring elite defensive talent such as Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones, and Aaron Ekblad, alongside goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Their forward lines include a physical top unit with Sam Bennett centering the Tkachuk brothers, as well as scoring threats like Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.
Chicago Lineup and Projected Pairs
The Blackhawks will feature a modified lineup as Patrick Kane remains sidelined with an upper-body injury, and Andrew Mangiapane is out. Jordan Greenway and Teuvo Teravainen return to action, while 29-year-old Dillon Boucher is set to make his NHL debut to provide physicality. Tyler Bertuzzi, Connor Bedard, and Roman Kantserov comprise the top forward line. On defense, Bowen Byram remains on the injured reserve, Kevin Korchinski is scratched, and Ethan Del Mastro will partner with Sam Rinzel on the third pairing. Spencer Knight is slated to make his second consecutive start in goal.
How to Watch
Local fans in the Chicagoland area can listen to the game on AM 720 WGN, while national television coverage is available on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max. The puck drops shortly after 6:30 PM CT.
