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Projected lineup: Blackhawks missing key veteran forward vs Ducks Sunday

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Sam Walker
December 7, 2025 (5:20 PM)

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The Blackhawks roll into Sunday's clash with the Anaheim Ducks with a visible hole up front - Teuvo Teravainen remains out after taking a puck off the face in their loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Chicago needs a solid bounce-back after a rough night, and missing a veteran forward like Teravainen complicates things for their top-six balance.

Chicago heads into the game coming off a blowout loss to L.A., and they turn right around to face Anaheim again. This will mark another quick turnaround and a tough test, especially while their forward group deals with uncertainty.

Projected lines show a likely forward group of:

Ryan Greene - Connor Bedard - Andre Burakovsky
Oliver Moore - Frank Nazar - Tyler Bertuzzi
Ryan Donato - Jason Dickinson - Ilya Mikheyev
Colton Dach - Sam Lafferty

Landon Slaggert remains a dark horse to draw in if someone else sits. Goaltending looks set for a change as well: Spencer Knight started in net Saturday, so veteran Arvid Soderblom is likely to get the nod Sunday.

Teravainen absence shakes lineup balance

Blackhawks fans will certainly notice the void left by Teravainen's absence, especially given his veteran instincts and ability to stabilize a top-six line. It's one thing to lose a player to injury, and it's another to lose a puck to the face-that kind of hit demands recovery time, and dental work might very well be on the table.

Still, this is a chance for younger forwards like Moore, Nazar, or Donato to step in and make an impact. A solid outing could heal some of the bruised confidence from the Kings' drubbing.

The Ducks will bring speed and a mix of youth and veteran savvy, so the Blackhawks need structure, effort, and commitment in battles and puck management.

With spotty execution and defensive lapses recently, Chicago must clean up turnovers and limit odd-man rushes if they want to stay competitive.

It won't be easy without Teravainen, but it might be the cleansing reset the Blackhawks need before the season's grind really kicks in. Take care of the mouth, get healthy, and let the young guns earn their keep.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

Gameday preview: Blackhawks wrap up road trip in Anaheim with Bedard vs. Ducks and McTavish showdown

Team Canada weighing controversial roster decision between Connor Bedard and Capitals powerforward

Analyst narrows 2026 Winter Olympics picks - only 3 of 7 hopefuls make the cut

POLL
DECEMBRE 7 \| 61 ANSWERS Projected lineup: Blackhawks missing key veteran forward vs Ducks Sunday Will Chicago's forwards step up without Teuvo Teravainen Sunday?
Yes	19	31.1 %
No	24	39.3 %
Depends on effort	15	24.6 %
Ducks win anyway	3	4.9 %
List of polls

Projected lineup: Blackhawks missing key veteran forward vs Ducks Sunday

Teravainen absence shakes lineup balance

Will Chicago's forwards step up without Teuvo Teravainen Sunday?