Happy Game Day! The Chicago Blackhawks and Bears are both in action today, as they each look to keep their respective strong stretches going. The Blackhawks are back at the United Center for their first of two games during a quick homestand, while the Bears are out in Baltimore in search of their fifth consecutive victory. How about another pair of wins for a double Victory Monday?
Also in Blackhawks news, another goalie prospect pitched a shutout on Saturday, while Lukas Reichel made his first appearance as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
Around the league, the Detroit Red Wings had an epic comeback to snap their brief losing skid, the Nashville Predators lost their captain to injury, and Patrik Laine is slated to miss 3-4 months.
All that & more in the Daily!
Chicago Blackhawks Trade, News & Tidbits
Chicago Hockey Now: With Jason Dickinson and Andre Burakovsky nearing their returns, it felt like the Blackhawks had one forward too many on their active roster. That put Lukas Reichel’s future in Chicago in jeopardy, and GM Kyle Davidson finally pulled the trigger for a trade on Friday.
More CHN: ICYMI, the Blackhawks earned a scrappy 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in their last time out. Ryan Donato found the back of the net twice, while Spencer Knight was spectacular once again to record his third win of the season.
After Adam Gajan blanked Minnesota on Friday, it was Drew Commesso’s turn to record a weekend shutout. Commesso stopped all 37 shots faced to help the Rockford IceHogs earn a 4-0 win in Colorado on Saturday. That was a much-needed response from Rockford after losing 5-0 in their previous outing.
Blackhawks 2025 first-round pick Vaclav Nestrasil is on a tear to begin his NCAA career, and he found the back of the net again on Saturday. Nestrasil now has nine points (6G, 3A) through his first seven games with the UMass Minutemen. He’s been one of the best freshmen in the entire country.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
The Athletic: Not only is Alex Ovechkin closing in on 900 career goals, but he also reached another milestone on Saturday. Ovechkin played in his 1,500th NHL game for the Washington Capitals, becoming just the eighth player in league history to reach that number with only one franchise.
TSN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is set to miss some time, as he was diagnosed with an upper-body injury on Saturday. Josi is currently listed as week-to-week.
Daily Faceoff: The Calgary Flames are a measly 1-7-1 through nine games this season, and they currently sit at the bottom of the NHL standings. Because of their lackluster start, Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson could become trade casualties.
Canucks Socials: Lukas Reichel made his debut with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, as he centered the team’s second line with Evander Kane and Brock Boeser. It wasn’t the best first showing for Reichel, as he finished with a minus-two rating, only one shot on goal, and won only two of ten faceoffs in 15:54 of ice time.
Montreal Hockey Now: The strong-shooting Patrik Laine had to undergo surgery, and the Montreal Canadiens announced that he’ll be out for 3-4 months. MHN broke down the impact of losing Laine.
Detroit Hockey Now: After a pair of sloppy losses, the Detroit Red Wings got back on track with a statement win on Saturday night. After trailing 4-0 to the St. Louis Blues, the Wings rattled off six unanswered goals to steal two points. What a comeback!
Philadelphia Hockey Now: Trevor Zegras has been one of the best players for the Philadelphia Flyers so far this season, and he added another three points in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday.
For more Blackhawks news, visit Chicago Hockey Now and like our Facebook Page.
Follow us on X: