Blackhawks Game #80: The Home Finale Featuring Frank Nazar

The Chicago Blackhawks (23-51-5) host the Carolina Hurricanes (51-22-7) tonight at the United Center. Puck drop is at 5pm and Frank Nazar will make his Blackhawks debut.

Previously on Blackhawks Hockey:

The Blackhawks were down 4-0 again–but it was at least gradual this time. Chicago fell 5-1, and lost its third straight in what has been some miserable showings as of late.

How to Watch and Listen

TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WGN 720

Scouting the Opponent, Storylines & Miscellaneous Musings

Frank Nazar signed his entry-level deal yesterday and he’ll be in the lineup tonight for the Blackhawks. The youth movement has added another layer of storylines to conclude the home slate of games this season.  It’s also the appropriate way to finish off the last regular season preview for a home game this year.

The future is arriving. No, it’s not going to make or break what has been a tough year with 50+ losses in the ledger. But the hope of what can be–what should be–is on display tonight. Connor Bedard, Lukas Reichel, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, Ethan Del Mastro, Landon Slaggert, and Frank Nazar kick off what might be a regular nucleus of young talent that general manager Kyle Davidson builds around over the next couple of seasons.

Everyone is tired of the losing–a constant in for three seasons now, but also a continued slump of nearly a decade that hasn’t included anything beyond a first-round playoff appearance. Think about that for a moment–it hasn’t been since 2015 that the Blackhawks played beyond April, not withstanding the bizarro bubble playoff series that delayed the inevitable.

So enjoy the final home game. It comes against a Carolina team trying to still situate itself at the top of what is a crowded and competitive Eastern Conference battle. To hell with it–enjoy seeing what very well could be the future of the franchise buzzing around the ice.

Lessons will be learned and maybe even some history made. One day soon, the final home game of the regular season will simply be the prelude to the first home game of the playoffs.