The Chicago Blackhawks find themselves in familiar territory, sitting last in the NHL standings this season and struggling to string together wins without their top two forwards, Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, who are sidelined with injuries.
Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 31 games this season and was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury that will keep him out until January. He was injured in the final seconds of Chicago's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 12 when Blues captain Brayden Schenn cross-checked Bedard down to the ice, with Bedard clutching his left shoulder.