The Chicago Blackhawks will try to snap a four-game losing streak when they welcome the Los Angeles Kings to the United Center on Sunday evening, but they’ll do so without one of their veteran defensemen on the blue line.
At the team’s morning skate on Sunday, head coach Jeremy Colliton announced that defenseman Brent Seabrook will be a healthy scratch for the game, saying that the blue liner was simply getting a rest day during a condensed portion of the Blackhawks’ schedule.
“We want to get (Dennis) Gilbert in, and it’s a back-to-back,” Colliton told The Athletic’s Scott Powers. “It’s a good opportunity to give Seabs a rest and see what Gilbert has.”
Gilbert, who was called up by the Blackhawks when Connor Murphy was placed on injured reserve, will appear in a game for the first time since he played in the season opener against the Flyers in Prague.
In nine games so far this season, Seabrook has scored one goal and posted a minus-5 plus/minus rating. He has primarily skated with defenseman Olli Maatta.
The Blackhawks have lost four games in a row, scoring a total of two goals in their previous three games. The team will look to right the ship against a last-place Kings squad that has lost five of its last seven games, including two straight blowout losses to the Blues and Wild as they continue a four-game road trip.
Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
