After opening the 2025-26 season with a two-game road trip, the Blackhawks have returned to Chicago and play their first home game at the United Center in an Original Six matchup with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Last time out, the Blackhawks failed to convert on several golden opportunities late in the game and fell 4-3 in overtime against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday. Jeff Blashill earned his first point as the Blackhawks’ new head coach, but he’s still looking for his first win.
Connor Bedard netted his first two points of the season in Boston, rifling a one-timer for his first goal and adding a primary assist. Bedard recorded his 28th career multi-point game, which ties Jonathan Toews for sixth-most by a Blackhawks player before the age of 21. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has picked up one assist in each of his four career games against Montreal.
Frank Nazar’s strong start to his first full NHL campaign continued against the Bruins, as he tallied an assist to give him points in each of the Blackhawks’ first two games. Nazar has two points (1G, 1A) in two career games versus the Canadiens.
Montreal opened the 2025-26 season with a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The Habs bounced back the following night to earn their first win of the year, scoring five unanswered goals to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1.
Brendan Gallagher is the leading point-scorer for the Canadiens through two contests with three points (all assists), while Zack Bolduc and Oliver Kapanen are tied for the team lead in goals with two.
Reigning Calder Trophy winner and North Barrington, Illinois native Lane Hutson is still looking for his first point of the new season.
Here’s everything to note before the puck drops tonight in Chicago at 6 p.m. CT.
Home Opener Schedule of Events
It’s always an eventful day filled with festivities for the Blackhawks’ home opener, but the Centennial Season celebrations provide even more exciting events than usual.
The team’s annual red carpet event begins at 3:00 p.m. CT, and fans will have an opportunity to see and interact with more than 50 Blackhawks alumni representing all eras of the franchise’s 100-year history. Corey Crawford, Brian Campbell, Chris Chelios, Eddie Olczyk, Jeremy Roenick, and Denis Savard are just a few Blackhawks legends who will be in attendance!
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, with the outdoor plaza opening to the public at 2:00 p.m. CT. Parking lots A, D, & F will open at 1:30 p.m. CT.
The United Center gates and Atrium doors open at approximately 4:00 p.m. CT, and there will be additional pregame activities and special food & beverage offerings. Also, the first 20,000 fans to enter the UC will receive a 2025-26 magnet schedule. Giveaways are back!
Fans are recommended to be in their seats no later than 5:45 p.m. CT to catch Chicago’s Centennial Season opening show, which includes a pregame ceremony hosted by the great Pat Foley! Full roster introductions and other special productions will follow.
2024-25 Results vs. Canadiens
The Blackhawks won both games against the Canadiens in the 2024-25 season. Chicago is 16-5-3 over the last 24 games vs. Montreal and has points in 10 of the past 13 meetings (9-3-1) between the two teams at the United Center.
01/03/25 4-2 W, United Center
04/14/25 4-3 W (SO), Bell Centre
Projected Blackhawks Lineup
Forward Lines
Colton Dach-Connor Bedard-Andre Burakovsky
Teuvo Teravainen-Frank Nazar-Tyler Bertuzzi
Ryan Donato-Ryan Greene-Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Foligno-Lukas Reichel-Sam Lafferty
Defensive Pairings
Alex Vlasic-Sam Rinzel
Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov*
Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy
SCRATCHED
D – Louis Crevier*
INJURED
F – Joey Anderson (lower body), G – Laurent Brossoit (hip), F — Jason Dickinson (upper body), F – Landon Slaggert (lower body)
***
The Blackhawks had a very interesting morning skate. Jason Dickinson didn’t participate after exiting Thursday’s game early and won’t play tonight in the home opener. Blashill said that Dickinson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss roughly one week.
With Dickinson out, Ryan Greene has been bumped up to the third-line center position, while Lukas Reichel appears to be drawing in on the fourth line. Reichel was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season.
Defensively, there’s still some mystery as to which blue liners will be in the lineup on Saturday. Artyom Levshunov skated in his usual second-pairing spot next to Wyatt Kaiser, but he was the last player on the ice for the morning skate, which typically indicates a healthy scratch is coming. Blashill didn’t confirm his defensive group for the game, but Levshunov openly stated, “probably not,” when asked if he would be part of the Blackhawks’ lineup against Montreal.
Louis Crevier, who scored a goal in his season debut on Thursday in Boston, skated as the seventh defenseman during the morning skate. But if Levshunov ends up getting scratched, Crevier will likely fill into the second pairing alongside Kaiser.
Projected Canadiens Lineup
Forward Lines
Cole Caufield-Nick Suzuki-Juraj Slafkovsky
Zack Bolduc-Kirby Dach-Brendan Gallagher
Alex Newhook-Oliver Kapanen-Ivan Demidov
Josh Anderson-Jake Evans-Patrik Laine
Defensive Pairings
Mike Matheson-Noah Dobson
Kaiden Guhle-Cole Hutson
Arber Zhekaj-Alexandre Carrier
Scratched
D — Jayden Struble, F — Joe Veleno
Injured
None
***
Kirby Dach is expected to center the Canadiens’ second line and will face off against his younger brother, Colton, for the second time in the NHL. Colton and the Blackhawks earned the bragging rights in the first matchup with a 4-2 win over Kirby and the Habs in January 2025.
Kirby, the Blackhawks’ third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, was traded to Montreal ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft. The now 24-year-old forward has recorded one assist in four career games against his former team.
GOALTENDING MATCHUP
Sam Montembeault (0-1-0, 3.07 GAA, .880 Sv%, 0 SO) vs. Spencer Knight (0-1-0, 3.05 GAA, .919 Sv%, 0 SO)
Montembeault started the Habs’ season opener on Wednesday, stopping 22 of 25 shots faced in a 5-2 road loss to Toronto. The 28-year-old goaltender is 2-1-2 with a 2.72 GAA, .863 Sv%, and 0 shutouts in five career starts against the Blackhawks.
Knight was tremendous in the Blackhawks’ 2025-26 season opener on Tuesday vs. the Florida Panthers, as he stopped 34 of 37 shots faced in his first start against his former team since getting traded in March. Knight is 1-1-0 with a 3.52 GAA, .875 Sv%, and 0 shutouts in two career games against the Canadiens.
How To Watch, Listen, & Game Info
Montreal Canadiens (1-1-0) @ Chicago Blackhawks (0-1-1)
6 p.m. CT — United Center
TV/Stream: CHSN (Ball/Pang), NHL Network, SNE, CITY, TVAS
Radio: WGN 720 AM (Wiedeman/Special Guests)
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: