The surging Blackhawks return to action at the United Center on Tuesday night, where they’ll welcome in the Calgary Flames with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

In case you need a refresher, this is what happened the last time these two teams saw each other, just 11 days ago:

#Blackhawks 4 @ #Flames 0 [P3-1:59]:

Goal: Connor Bedard (8)
Wrister Shot

Assists: Unassisted#Blackhawks #Flames #NHL pic.twitter.com/N61fCinPH1

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalsVideo) November 8, 2025

Not a lot has changed for either team from a standings perspective since. The Blackhawks are still firmly in the midst of it all as they currently sit seventh in the West, while the Flames’ 5-12-3 record and 13 points have them stranded at the very bottom of the league.

We’re nearing a point where Calgary needs to turn things around in a hurry, or we’re going to see them get harvested for parts. The good (bad?) news for Flames fans is they have some high-quality players contending teams would covet, but seeing as Calgary has never been viewed as an ideal landing spot for free agents, replacing those players down the road will certainly be an issue. The Flames haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, though — back when the Johnny Gaudreau-Elias Lindholm-Matthew Tkachuk line was terrorizing the league — so it’s hard to argue that they’re just a piece or two away from being right back in it.

Nazem Kadri should be at the top of their trade board. He’s their leading scorer (4 G, 7 A in 20 games) and de facto No. 1-ish center — and would immediately become one of the best No. 2 centers if/when he’s traded to a better team and utilized correctly. Kadri is a strong possession driver who can be counted on to contribute offensively, play big minutes in all situations, and be an antagonizing pest.

Blake Coleman would also be in demand as a complementary, middle-six, double-edged sword. In addition to still being one of the better defensive forwards in the league, he also leads the Flames in goals with seven (all even-strength), and has earned the reputation as a big time playoff performer after back-to-back Cup wins with the Lightning.

On the back end, Maple Leafs fans are frothing at the mouth to get their hands on Rasmus Andersson because they think that somehow he’s going to save their season (Ron Howard voice: he won’t). Andersson has turned down multiple extension offers from Calgary at this point, and it sounds like they currently want an absolute haul for him in return.

With very few true contenders — and even fewer pure sellers — locked in at the moment, the Flames would be wise to start maximizing their assets ASAP, and I’d like to think that maybe we’re just a well-placed Connor Bedard one-timed laser away from watching them explode in real time.

Here’s the lineup the Flames are going with tonight. Goaltender Dustin Wolf will be in net for his league-leading 18th start:

As for the Blackhawks, Nick Foligno was officially placed on IR yesterday (and should be out the next few weeks), Jason Dickinson is close to returning but isn’t expected to play tonight, and Tyler Bertuzzi didn’t participate in today’s morning skate, and will be a game time decision.

Arvid Soderblom gets the net. After his FANTASTIC start against Detroit, his season numbers are a 2-2-1 record with a 2.63 GAA and .913 SV%. He’s also 21st in Goals Saved Above Expected at plus-4.5.

And Sam Rinzel is expected to draw back in after his one game “reset” in the press box, so that the 11 F, 7 D experiment can continue. Rinzel has been a hot topic the last few days, and both Ben Pope and Scott Powers/Mark Lazerus wrote pieces about what type of adjustments the Hawks are looking for him to make in order for him to fully become the type of player we’ve seen tantalizing glimpses of so far.

The Flames are the lowest scoring team in the entire NHL, with just 42 goals total in 20 games (yikes), meanwhile the Blackhawks have surrendered the second-fewest goals overall. The Hawks have been rolling as of late — 4-0-1 in the last five, and 9-3-3 in their last 15 — and there’s really no reason that shouldn’t continue tonight. Here’s to them closing out this season series in style.

Let’s go Hawks.

Tale of the Tape

Blackhawks — Statistic — Flames
44.09% (32nd) — 5-on-5 Corsi For — 51.74% (7th)
43.03% (32nd) — 5-on-5 Expected goals for — 50.09% (16th)
2.73 (26th) — Goals per game — 2.68 (29th)
3.56 (31st) — Goals against per game — 2.88 (15th)
44.8% (31st) — Faceoffs — 46.0% (28th)
24.9% (7th) — Power play — 21.0% (19th)
79.3% (14th) — Penalty kill — 76.1% (25th)
(All stats from last season)

How to watch

When: 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV: CHSN
Webstream: ESPN+
Radio: WGN 720